IEA 45 — Opinions of experts

Indian Evidence Act, 1872

Statutory text

When the Court has to form an opinion upon a point of foreign law or of
science,  or  art,  or  as  to  identity  of  handwriting

[or  finger  impressions],  the  opinions  upon  that  point  of
persons specially skilled in such foreign law, science or art,

[or in questions as to identity of handwriting]

[or finger impressions] are relevant facts.
Such persons are called experts.
Illustrations
(a) The question is, whether the death of A was caused by poison.
The opinions of experts as to the symptoms produced by the poison by which A is supposed to have died, are relevant.

 (b) The question is, whether A, at the time of doing a certain act, was, by reason of unsoundness of
mind, incapable of knowing the nature of the act, or that he was doing what was either wrong or contrary to law.
The  opinions  of  experts  upon  the  question  whether  the  symptoms  exhibited  by  A  commonly  show
unsoundness  of  mind,  and  whether  such  unsoundness  of  mind  usually  renders  persons  incapable  of
knowing the nature of the acts which they do, or of knowing that what they do is either wrong or contrary to law, are relevant.
(c)  The  question  is,  whether  a  certain  document  was  written  by  A.  Another  document  is  produced which is proved or admitted to have been written by A.
The opinions of experts on the question whether the two documents were written by the same person or by different persons, are relevant.

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