Forensic ink-age analysis on a cheque is futile where no reliable scientific method exists and bank records can prove issuance.

A court should not direct forensic examination to determine the age of ink or handwriting on a cheque when no reliable scientific method is available to give a certain opinion. The petitioner admitted the signature and sought only ink-age analysis for the dates and amount; the court treated that request as futile because the alleged timing of issuance could be proved through bank records instead. On that basis, the request for expert examination was rejected and the revision failed.

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Issues: Whether the request to send the cheque for forensic examination to ascertain the age of the ink and variation in ink was liable to be allowed.

Analysis: The petitioner admitted the signature on the cheque and sought only to determine the age of the ink used for filling the dates and amount. The Court relied on the settled position that there is no scientific method available in the State to assess the age of writing or ink with certainty, and that such requests for expert opinion on the age of writings are futile. It also accepted the finding that the alleged old issuance of the cheque could be proved through bank records, making the requested comparison unnecessary.

Conclusion: The request for forensic examination was rightly rejected and the revision petition failed.

Ratio Decidendi: A court should not order forensic examination to determine the age of ink or writing on a document where no reliable scientific method is available to provide such an opinion.

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