IMPORTANT POINT
The absence of reliable scientific methods to determine the age of ink or documents limits the admissibility of such evidence in court, impacting the ability to establish the execution date of a promissory note.

ORDER :

(S. Sounthar, J.) :

(Prayer: Civil Revision Petition filed under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, praying to set aside the order in I.A.No.1 of 2019 in O.S.No.30 of 2017 dated 02.01.2024 of the learned Sub-Ordinate Judge, Thiruchengode.)

The Civil Revision Petition is filed challenging the order passed by the Trial Court dismissing the application filed by the petitioner seeking appointment of Advocate Commissioner to determine the age of the promissory note and the revenue stamp affixed thereon.

2. The respondent herein filed a suit for recovery of money based on promissory note. The petitioner, who was arrayed as defendant filed a written statement denying the execution of promissory note. It was his case that suit promissory note was executed as a security for one Subramaniam and there was no transaction between the petitioner and respondent. The petitioner filed an application in I.A.No.1 of 2019 seeking appointment of Advocate Commissioner to send the questioned promissory note dated 09.03.2016 to Nasik Mintz Factory for the purpose of ascertaining the age of the promissory note paper and also the age of the revenue stamp affixed thereon.

3. This Court in C.R.P(PD).No.4044 of 2019 has taken a view, following earlier decision, that there is no technology available to ascertain the age of the ink or promissory note. The relevant observation of this Court in the above matter reads as follows:

“4. This Court in R.Jagadeesan vs. N.Ayyasamy reported in 2010 (2) MLJ (Crl) 659, dismissed the applications seeking expert opinion for determination of age of the ink mainly on the ground that there was no scientific method available to determine the age of the ink. The relevant observation of this Court reads as follows:-

“10. ... ... ... ... In my considered opinion, a careful reading of the said Judgment would also go to show that there was no occasion for the learned Judge to answer the question as to whether there is any expert available in terms of Section 45 of the Evidence Act to offer any opinion regarding the age of the document. The entire case proceeded under the premise as though there are experts to offer opinion regarding the age of the documents. Now, as I have already stated, the Head of the Department of Forensic Science is before me and from whom I have the benefit of ascertaining that there is no expert in the field and also that all such documents sent already were returned without offering any opinion. Therefore, the said Judgment also would not come to the help of the respondents.

11. In view of all the above, the revisions are allowed and the impugned orders of the learned Magistrate are set aside and the request for sending the documents for ascertaining the age of the writings is rejected. Connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. The services rendered by the Assistant Director is appreciated.”

5. When the matter was came up for hearing before this Court on 05.02.2024, this Court directed Mr.V.Jeevagiridharan, learned Additional Government Pleader, who was present in the Court, to get instructions from the Directorate of Forensic Sciences Department, Chennai with regard to the question whether technology is available as on today to determine the age of the ink found in a document.

6. As per the direction issued by this Court, Mr.V.Jeevagiridharan, learned Additional Government Pleader obtained a written instruction from the Director of Forensic Sciences Department, Chennai - 600 004 and the scanned copy of the said letter is reproduced hereunder:-

7. Therefore, as per the letter received from the Director of Forensic Sciences Department, Chennai - 600 004, as on today, there is no reliable scientific technology available to determine the age of the ink in a document.

4. In view of the fact that as on today, there is no reliable technology available to determine the age of the ink or document, this Court is not inclined to accede to the request made by the petitioner. Further, it is pertinent t