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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 40894

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
T.V.THAMILSELVI, J
K.Jeyasekar – Appellant
Versus
J. Peter Jayaraj – Respondent
CRP No. 5587 of 2025



Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: J.Franklin
For the Respondents:R.1 – No appearance, M/s.P.Govindarasan For R.2, Mr.A.Anandan Govt.Advocate For R.3

Procedural rules should not prevent obtaining expert opinion to prove document authenticity in title disputes.

Headnote:Under the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, Section 45 empowers courts to obtain expert opinions on disputed fingerprints or signatures to establish authenticity. In this case, the plaintiff sought to verify the authenticity of a General Power of Attorney dated 19.04.2002 by comparing its thumb impression and signature with those in an RC Book and Sale Deed. The trial court dismissed the application on grounds of delay and res judicata. The High Court held that an expert opinion is essential to allow the plaintiff to substantiate his defence that the document is void, and granting such opportunity would not prejudice either party. The primary issue framed by the Court was whether the plaintiff, having earlier failed in obtaining an expert opinion, could renew the request after seven years during trial. The Court reasoned that an expert's report would assist in determining the authenticity of the Power of Attorney, which is central to the declaration sought in the suit. The ratio decidendi underscores that procedural delays should not defeat substantive justice where the opportunity to prove a key defence remains essential. The High Court allowed the Civil Revision Petition, set aside the trial court's order, and directed the appointment of an Advocate Commissioner to obtain an expert report within two months, followed by disposal of the suit within four months.

Table of Content
1. chronology of prior ia application dismissed. (Para 1 , 2 , 6)
2. arguments on maintainability of repeated application. (Para 3 , 4)
3. court observes need for expert opinion to decide document authenticity. (Para 5 , 7)
4. revision allowed and timelines prescribed for trial. (Para 9)

ORDER

Challenging the order passed in I.A.No.6 of 2025 in O.S.No.209 of 2017, the plaintiff has filed the above revision.

2. Before the trial Court, the plaintiff filed an application in I.A.No.6 of 2025 under Section 45 of Indian Evidence Act to send the original Power of Attorney dated 19.04.2002 to compare with admitted signature and thumb impression found in RC Book of Ashok Layland Lorry bearing No.TN 29 A8247 to obtain the expert opinion. The same was objected by the respondents/defendants. On hearing both sides, the trial Court dismissed the application holding that the petitioner/plaintiff has already filed a petition to obtain expert opinion and the same was dismissed. Thereafter, he came forward with the present application, seeking for the same relief and further held that the petitioner has not taken any steps to challenge the dismissal of the earlier application by way of revision and instead, filing the present application after 7 years, that too, at the time of examination of P.W.1 in chief, is not permissible. Aggrieved by the same, the

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plaintiff has preferred the present revision.

3. Learned counsel for the revision petitioner/plaintiff submits that admittedly earlier he filed a petition in I.A.No.1364 of 2018 for the same relief and the same was dismissed and since other interlocutory applications were allowed, the petitioner/plaintiff could not proceed and he is not able to comply with the order. However, learned counsel submits that still the revision petitioner/plaintiff is having valid defence to disprove that the thumb impression found in the Power of Attorney does not belong to him and to compare the same he is having RC Book of Ashok Layland Lorry bearing No.TN 29 A 8247 and also the original sale deed dated 30.09.2016 which contains the thumb impression and to compare the thumb impression along with the power of attorney, now he has taken steps, but the trial court has not given such opportunity.

4. Learned counsel for the respondents raised strong objection stating that already the revision petitioner/plaintiff approached for the same relief and the same was dismissed by the court and said order has not been challenged. Again, the revision petitioner/plaintiff has come forward for the same relief, as such, is not maintainable. Learned counsel further submits that at the time of cross examination of P.W.1. the

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revision petitioner/plaintiff filed application and therefore, the trial court has rightly dismissed the application which warrants no interference.

5. I have considered the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.

6. The fact reveals that already the revision petitioner/plaintiff filed an application in I.A.No.1364 of 2018 seeking a direction to the respondents to produce the documents mentioned in the petition which are the Thumb Impression Book relating to the General Power of Attorney Deed dated 19.04.2002 before the Joint I Sub Registrar Office at Tiruppur and the Original Registered General Power of Attorney Deed dated 19.04.2002 for comparison of Thumb Impression and Signature of the Petitioner by a Forensic Handwriting Expert and to give evidence thereof and the same was dismissed. Thereafter, he has not taken any steps for comparison. Now, again he has filed application in I.A.No.6 of 2025 for the same relief.

7. As on date, the revision petitioner/plaintiff seeks to send the original Power of Attorney dated 19.04.2002 to compare with the admitted signature and Thumb Impression found in RC Book of Ashok Layland Lorry bearing No.TN 29 A 8247 and

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the Sale Deed to obtain the expert opinion. Further, considering the prayer sought for in t

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