FINGERPRINTS

FINGERPRINT
• The palmar surface of the hands and plantar surface of
the foot – covered with a layer of corrugated skin to
ensure a firmer grip and to resist slippage.
• Elevated surface- friction ridges.
• Valleys between two ridges- furrows or grooves.
• The reproduction of patterns of the friction ridges on the
distal phalanges of fingers and thumbs are called
fingerprints.
• SOURCE OF IDENTIFICATION
• Friction ridges- dotted with pores- for perspiration-
largely of water (98.5%).
• The remainder contains organic acids, salts(sodium
chloride), urea, at time small quantity of albumin.
INDIVIDUALITY OF FINGERPRINTS
• - VALUABLE, INFALLIBLE, ACCURATE- PERSONAL
IDENTIFICATION
• USED IN INVESTIGATION OF CRIME
• TO IDENTIFY PERSON OR CULPRINT
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF FINGERPRINT:
1. RIDGES formed even before birth do not change until
destroyed by decomposition after death.
2. Two fingerprints can be identical only if it is produced
by the same fingers of the same person.
- Fingerprint is individualistic and is not shared by any
two people.
- It remains unchanged throughout life.
- It exhibits general pattern that provide a basis for
classification
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
• USING FOR AROUND 3000 YEARS
• 1000 BC- CHINESE signed legal documents (even
criminal confessions) with fingerprints.
• 1874- Dr Henry Faulds – hospital in Tokyo- after
observing the intricate designs of human finger imprints
on prehistoric Japanese pottery, led to belief that finger
impressions may lead to scientific identification of
criminals.
• Sir Francis Gilton- book FINGERPRINTS, he established
that no two fingerprints were alike and described a
system of classification for fingerprints.
• This was later developed into GALTON-HENRY SYSTEM
by SIR EDWARD RICHARD HENRY, while working as
Inspector General of Police, Bengal, India.

• HENRY SYSTEM – REFER PREVIOUS PPT

CLASSIFICATION OF FINGERPRINTS
• ARCHES- 5%- RIDGES RUNS FROM ONE SIDE OF THE
PRINT TO THE OTHER.
• LOOPS- 60- 65%- LOOP IS FORMED by one or more
ridges entering at one side of the pattern, continuing up
to the centre and recurving around a core to form a
loop. A loop has delta and a core.
• WHORLS-30 -35%. Ithas two deltas and at least one
ridge making a complete circuit.
• COMPOSITES- combination of any of the above
mentioned three patterns.
REASONS FOR RECORDING
FINGERPRINTS
1. Furnish criminal antecedents- provide background of
the suspect.
2. Tracing out
3. Establish identity of unidentified dead bodies
4. Identify accused from records maintained
5. Assisting in finding out offenders, absconders, persons
escaped from prisons
6. Giving opinion in documents with disputed
fingerprints.
CONVENTIONAL METHOD OF
RECORDING FINGERPRINTS
• GLASS SLAB, A RUBBER ROLLER AND PRINTER’S BLACK
INK (thumb impression ink)

• - keep it neat and clean, wash them properly.

• Roller when not in use, wrap it in oil paper.
FINGER PRINTS OF DEAD BODIES
• RIGOR MORTIS- the body is placed placed with face
down and arms extended over head.
• Fingers are inked directly with rubber rollers and
brought in contact with strips of paper fixed on spoon
rolling the papers slowly and evenly to get rolled
impressions.
COLLECTION OF FINGERPRINTS
FROM THE SCENE OF CRIME
Fingerprints left by the culprit at the scene of the crime-
‘CHANCE PRINTS’, as they are left by chance , also known as
‘BUGLARS VISITING CARDS’.
THREE CLASSES OF CHANCE PRINTS:
1. VISIBLE PRINTS- when blood, ink, paint, dirt or greese on
the fingers of the perpetrator of a crime leaves behind a
readily visible print. Easily recorded by photograph.
2. PLASTIC PRINTS- 3 dimensional quality and occur when
perpetrator impressed a print into soft substance like wax,
putty, candle, mud, dried bloodstain or even dust.
Photographed through angular illumination.
3. LATENT PRINTS- hidden, invisible and cannot be seen
without special lighting or processing.
Usually formed by colourless greasy substance(out of
perspiration, dirt/oil matters from face,hair, skin, tools
etc. carried to fingers) from the palmar surface of the
fingers.
SEARCHING FOR THE LATENT
PRINTS
• -WHILE INVESTIGATION- DIRECT TO KEEP HANDS OFF
THE ARTICLES
• SEARCH TO START FROM POINT OF ENTRY TO ALL THE
POSSIBLE AREAS.
• ALL ARTICLES SUSPECTING TO BE DISTURBED SHOULD
BE THOROUGHLY EXAMINED.
DEVELOPMENT OF LATENT PRINTS
• 2 METHODS- PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL
• PHYSICAL – based on the fact that perspiration and
greasy matter retain certain substances. Powder
development and iodine fuming are some the physical
methods for developing latent prints.
• CHEMICAL- alter the components of perspiration causing
a reaction giving rise to certain colourization for
example ninhydrin and silver nitrate.
• OTHER METHODS-LAZER
• Highly sensitive capable to develop latent prints that
cannot be developed by other methods.
 AUTOMATED FINGERPRINTS
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (AFIS)
• Fingerprints are widely used as an important tool in crime
investigation. The manual system of Finger Print identification
previously under use, in Finger Print Bureau (FPB) was tedious,
complex and time-consuming. The enormous increase in volume of
crime coupled with the consequent increase in record has rendered
the manual comparison of fingerprints an unmanageable task. Also,
if the chance prints found at the scenes of crime happen to be poor
quality, manual comparison becomes virtually impossible.
• Another serious limitation of the manual identification system is the
comparison of chance prints lifted from the scenes of crime with
limited data of the single-digit records maintained at district
fingerprint units and State FPB. Further, identification of an arrested
person and the identification of chance prints lifted from the scenes
of crime have to be done in the shortest possible time.
Necessity for Computerization
• 1. With the increase in volume of fingerprint records,
manual searching of search references of suspects and
accused has become laborious and time consuming.
Therefore, it has become difficult to identify the chance
prints developed at the scenes of crime, using the
manual system.
• 2. It used to take a number of days before a search slip
was identified and result communicated to the
concerned police.
• 3. As the record slips are subjected to frequent
handling, they are liable to wear and tear and get
damaged.
• 4. Constant and careful maintenance is required to prevent
misfiling.
• 5. Updating of records becomes a problem as classification
formula or serial number furnished by the police is not always
correct.
• 6. Each incoming fingerprint slip of the convicted and
reconvicted criminal has to be searched against main records to
avoid duplication.
• 7. To avoid all these draw backs in manual searching it became
essential to computerize the fingerprints records and to
introduce computer search for the purpose of verification of the
fingerprints slips of suspected persons and chance prints.
• To overcome these problems and with the advent of
modern computer technology, all the Fingerprint
Bureaux in India have introduced Automatic Fingerprints
Identification System (AFIS) developed by different
software companies by the year 2000.
• AFIS enables scanning a fingerprint slip or chance print
which automatically encodes the fingerprint pattern,
ridges and minutia and takes on its database. District
AFIS work stations store the data of local offenders on
its data bank for verification and also transmit this
fingerprints data by the online system to the Central
Site at State FPB.
• After computerizing the entire State fingerprint records
of the districts and the State FPB, fingerprint staff are
now able to identify the local and inter-district criminals
and communicate the search results very rapidly to the
Investigation Officers (IOS), within hours, which was
highly impossible under manual systems. After the auto-
mation all manual verifications were discarded. Now
fingerprint experts are able to identify inter-district
offenders through the chance prints lifted from the
crime scenes through the online system.
• Recently, in most of the states each police station is
provided with a smart phone (with dedicated software
and in-built scanner) which scans and sends the
fingerprint to the main database at the FPB for
matching.
• 1) Automated fingerprints identification system is based on pattern
recognition theory.
• In essence it involves:
• A) Selection of characteristic features from the patterns to be
identified.
• B) Extraction of these features from a set of reference patterns.
• C) Storing them on a computer to form the database of the known
pattern
• D) Extraction of similar features from a given pattern to be identified
later date.
• E) Comparison of these features against those of the known patterns
in database to decide if a match exists among the later.
• 2) Automated fingerprint identification system proceeds
in the following steps:
• 1) Digitization
• 2) Feature Extraction
• 3) Minutia Editing
• 4) Matching
• 5) Verification
FUNCTIONS OF AFIS
• 1) Personal identification of the suspected person or
arrested person by the police.
• 2) Chance prints identification.
• 3) Fingerprint image display.
• 4) Updating database.
• 5) Deletion of fingerprint records.
• 6) Report generation.
• 7) Replacement of poor quality of fingerprints.
• 8) Processing references relating to ex-convicts.
• 9) Creation of list of time barred slips.
• 10) Processing of death reports.
• 11) Processing of absconders and out of view criminal
reports.
• 12) Adding conviction details of convicted and
reconvicted criminals.
• 13) Maintaining criminal attribute database of the
arrested persons convicted and reconvicted criminals.
 ADVANTAGES OF THE AFIS SYSTEM
• Apart from the accuracy and speed, the system has the following
advantages.
• 1) The entire database could be searched against the chance prints.
• 2) It will store only one set of fingerprints data for one criminal, as before
fin- gerprint data of a criminal is entered in the database, the system
automati- cally verifies for the duplicates.
• 3) No misplacing of fingerprint records (once brought on to the database
of the AFIS it will be permanent).
• 4) Very little physical handling of fingerprint records. Original physical
finger- print records will be free from wear and tear.
• 5) Networking of district fingerprint unit at different levels with State's
computer.
• 6) Possibility of integrating of crime criminal information system with the
fin- gerprint records.
Fingerprint Units Functioning in the
Districts
• Fingerprint units in the all districts were established in
phased manner. The main purpose of establishing the
Fingerprint units is to provide assistance to the IO in
identifying the offenders through the chance prints
found at the crime scene, to assist the SHOs in the
matters pertaining to fingerprints, to integrate and
transmit the records of all fingerprints of districts to the
central site of AFIS at FPB in State Headquarters.
DUTIES OF THE FINGERPRINT UNIT
STAFF AT THE DISTRICTS/
COMMISSIONERATES
• 1. The very purpose of establishing the fingerprint units in
districts is to assist the IOs in the detection of crime, by visiting
the scenes of crime, locating and developing the chance prints
and identifying the offenders involved in the crime.
• 2. To assist the IO to identify the out of view (OV) criminals by
way of placing 'Wanted Notices' on the Fingerprint Records Slips
at State FPB.
• 3. To interact with the SHOs at the district level to build up the
Fingerprint records of all the convicted persons and also of the
suspects; this helps in solving cases throughout the State.
Fingerprint Record Slip has now become a very important
document in crime investigation.
• 4. To scrutinize the Fingerprint Record slips received in the District
Crime Record Bureau (DCRB)/City Crime Records Bureau (CCRB) from
Police Stations. With regard to the clarity and connection of the the
fingerprints of convicted persons and get the defects, if any, rectified
at the district level itself.
• 5. To assist the IOs in identifying the unknown dead bodies through
fingerprints.
• 6. To impart training to the Police Station staff in taking clear
fingerprints the Fingerprint Record/Search Slips and to see that good
quality prints are obtained at Police Station level.
• 7. To keep themselves acquainted with the latest technology and to
use them properly to assist the IOs in crime detection.
• 8. To enlighten the IOs and other Police Station staff regarding the
importance of fingerprints in crime detection by giving proper advise
to them to see the crime scenes are not disturbed by inmates or
neighbours before the arrival of fingerprint experts and CLUES Team at
crime scenes.
Power of the investigating officer to take
fingerprints of a person- (ACT REPEALED)
1.Section 3 of the Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920 which empowers the
Investigating Officers to take fingerprints of the person who is convicted with the
offence punishable with one year or upward. Also, under Section 118 (Section
137 BNSS) of CrPC where the security is given by the person for the good
behaviour then also the investigating officer have the power to take fingerprints
and photograph of the person convicted of the offence.
2.Section 4 of the Identification of the Prisoners Act, 1920 the Investigating
Officer are empowered in relation the person who have not been convicted to
take his fingerprints also when the person might be accused for an offence
punishable for a one year or more.
3.Section 5 on the order of the First-Class Magistrate the investigating Officer can
take fingerprints of a person who is arrested for investigation under CrPc.
4.Section 6 of the Act which says that if a person who refuses to act (refusal to
give fingerprints) on the order of the investigating officer or the Court then can
be punished under Section 186 (SECTION 221 BNS)of the IPC.
THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
(IDENTIFICATION) ACT, 2022
• An Act to authorise for taking measurements of convicts
and other persons for the purposes of identification and
investigation in criminal matters and to preserve
records and for matters connected therewith and
incidental thereto.

• Section 2(b) "measurements" includes finger-

impressions, palm-print impressions, foot-print
impressions, photographs, iris and retina scan, physical,
biological samples and their analysis, behavioural
attributes including signatures, handwriting or any other
examination.
Section 3- Taking of measurement.
Any person, who has been,—
(a) convicted of an offence punishable under any law for the time being in force; or
(b) ordered to give security for his good behaviour or maintaining peace under
section 117 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for a proceeding under section 107
or section 108 or section 109 or section 110 of the said Code; or
(c) arrested in connection with an offence punishable under any law for the time
being in force or detained under any preventive detention law,
shall, if so required, allow his measurement to be taken by a police officer or a prison officer
in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government or the State Government:
Provided that any person arrested for an offence committed under any law for the time
being in force (except for an offence committed against a woman or a child or for any
offence
punishable with imprisonment for a period not less than seven years) may not be obliged to
allow taking of his biological samples under the provisions of this section.
Section 5 - Power of Magistrate to
direct a person to give
measurements.
• Where the Magistrate is satisfied that, for the purpose
of any investigation or proceeding under the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973 or any other law for the time
being in force, it is expedient to direct any person to
give measurements under this Act, the Magistrate may
make an order to that effect and in that case, the
person to whom the order relates shall allow the
measurements to be taken in conformity with such
directions.
Section 6- Resistance to allow taking
of measurements
• . (1) If any person who is required to allow the
measurements to be taken under this Act resists or
refuses to allow taking of such measurements, it shall
be lawful for the police officer or prison officer to take
such measurements in such manner as may be
prescribed.
• (2) Resistance to or refusal to allow the taking of
measurements under this Act shall be deemed to be an
offence under section 186 of the Indian Penal Code.
• In Shakariya v. State of Rajasthan(1978) It was
observed in this case that the authority to take the
fingerprints is given to police under Section 4 and 5 of
the Identification of the Prisoners Act, 1920 and there is
no need to take the permission of the Magistrate for the
same.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON ADMISSIBILITY
OF FINGERPRINTS IN INDIA
SECTION 45 (SEC 39 BSA) of Indian Evidence Act - Following are the
requirements of this section:
1.The foremost requirement of the expert opinion is that a matter is
of such a nature that it is beyond the know-how of a layman.
2.The matter involves such medical issue or science which is outside
the knowledge of the Court.
3.The person giving an opinion must have specialization in that very
field.
4.The evidence must be based on reliable principles.
• The opinion of the expert is not circumstantial but corroborative
that means that the opinion is not conclusive and it is advisory in
nature.
HH Gowda, Re Govinda Reddy,
MANU KA 0058 (1958)
• In Re Govinda Reddy, the court held that "The science of
comparison of fingerprints has developed to a stage of
EXACTITUDE. It Is quite possible to compare the
impressions, provided they are sufficiently clear and
enlarged photography is available. The identification of
finger impressions with the aid of a good magnifying
glass is not difficult, particularly where the photographs
of the latent and patent impressions are pasted side by
side."
 Guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and
the High Court in respect of the fingerprinting
• Whenever the Court wants to compare the fingerprints or the handwriting it
is essential that the assistance of the experts should be taken otherwise it
would be risky to deal the case.
• The comparison of the two fingerprints cannot be made through a casual
glance. ( R.V. Raveendran, Thiruvengada Pillai v. Naveenthammal,
MANU SC 0942 (2008))
• It is well established that when a person called upon for giving finger
impression that does not mean that he is giving a personal testimony.
• The expert opinion given under Section 73 of the Evidence Act for the
comparison of the handwriting or the fingerprints then this evidence will
definitely aid the Court.
• Where the family of the victim finds that proper procedure has not been and
there was incompetency on the part of the investigation team then
complaint can be made to the Session Judge.
• Jaspal Singh v. State of Punjab, (AIR 1979 SC 1708. 1979
Cr.L.J. 1386)
"The science of identifying thumb impressions is an
EXACT SCIENCE and does not admit of any mistake."
• In Chauthl v. State (1978 Cr.L.J. (NOC) 122 All.), it was
held:- "In a case of forgery in which the accused denied
having put his thumb impressions, the accused was
convicted on the evidence of the expert who gave his
opinion that the thumb impression was that of the
accused after comparing the finger prints of the
complainant and the accused."
• As already mentioned earlier, finally it is the
JUDGE/COURT who has to examine and decide the
correctness of the conclusions of an Expert.
• In Bhaluka Behara and others v. State (AIR 1957 Orissa
172), their, Lordships said:- "If the finger prints are clear
enough the Court must verify the evidence of the expert
by examining them with a magnifying glass if
necessary, and applying its own mind to the similarities
or dissimilarities afforded by the finger prints, before
coming to a conclusion one way or the other. The
science has developed to a stage of exactitude. But the
main thing to be scrutinised is whether the Expert's
examination is THROUGH, COMPLETE and SCIENTIFIC."