Examination and linking of offset cross mark impressions on a ballot paper with their source: an unusual document case study
By: Thakur, Sushma and Joshi, Mahesh Chandra
.
Material type: 
BookPublisher: The Indian Police Journal Description: 68(3), Jul-Sep, 2021: p.114-122.Subject(s): Iconic symbols, Decipherment, Superimposition, Cross marks, Writing offsets
In:
The Indian Police JournalSummary: The Preparation of a document represents a series of planned acts, but at times important elements become part of the document purely by chance and not through the premeditated design of either those who prepared the document or those who subsequently handled it. In this way latent prints, writing offsets from some other document, ink impressions from writing strokes that are not part of the document in question, and traces of foreign matter with which the document has been in contact find their way into it. More than likely, their presence is entirely unknown to the document’s author, creator or handler, but under favorable circumstances, these chance markings and additions can play a significant role or can sometimes point towards a misleading situation or precarious condition. Forensically speaking the questioned documents submitted in the laboratory are not, sometimes, true what they are representing. Also, when question arises about the authenticity of the act or content or history or background and existence of such documents, these extraneous marks, impressions or other iconic marks, etc. have, sometimes, immense evidentiary value for proving or disapproving the point of dispute. This article presents a case study consisting of examination and analysis of an invalid ballot paper bearing a few extra cross marks referring to the voting against the name of two candidates in senate elections of an institute of international repute. A candidate out of two won by a margin of one vote only consequent upon cancellation of one Ballot paper owing to the existence of the number of extraneous cross marks on ballot paper instead of one. Due to litigation, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Vice President of India (being Chancellor of the Educational Institute) directed the institute authorities to seek help of Forensic Document Examiners. Extensive scientific examination of the questioned Ballot paper with the use of scientific techniques and available computer software tools could link all the extra feeble offset cross mark impressions resulting due to subsequent multiple folding and careless handling of the disputed ballot paper with one common original cross mark thus proving their progeny and genuineness of invalidated Ballot paper. – Reproduced
| Item type | Current location | Call number | Vol info | Status | Date due | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Articles
|
Indian Institute of Public Administration | 68(3), Jul-Sep, 2021: p.114-122 | Available | AR127548 |
The Preparation of a document represents a series of planned acts, but at times important elements become part of the document purely by chance and not through the premeditated design of either those who prepared the document or those who subsequently handled it. In this way latent prints, writing offsets from some other document, ink impressions from writing strokes that are not part of the document in question, and traces of foreign matter with which the document has been in contact find their way into it. More than likely, their presence is entirely unknown to the document’s author, creator or handler, but under favorable circumstances, these chance markings and additions can play a significant role or can sometimes point towards a misleading situation or precarious condition. Forensically speaking the questioned documents submitted in the laboratory are not, sometimes, true what they are representing. Also, when question arises about the authenticity of the act or content or history or background and existence of such documents, these extraneous marks, impressions or other iconic marks, etc. have, sometimes, immense evidentiary value for proving or disapproving the point of dispute. This article presents a case study consisting of examination and analysis of an invalid ballot paper bearing a few extra cross marks referring to the voting against the name of two candidates in senate elections of an institute of international repute. A candidate out of two won by a margin of one vote only consequent upon cancellation of one Ballot paper owing to the existence of the number of extraneous cross marks on ballot paper instead of one. Due to litigation, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Vice President of India (being Chancellor of the Educational Institute) directed the institute authorities to seek help of Forensic Document Examiners. Extensive scientific examination of the questioned Ballot paper with the use of scientific techniques and available computer software tools could link all the extra feeble offset cross mark impressions resulting due to subsequent multiple folding and careless handling of the disputed ballot paper with one common original cross mark thus proving their progeny and genuineness of invalidated Ballot paper. – Reproduced
There are no comments for this item.