Small BusinessM J Antony: Catching up with science
M J Antony / New Delhi June 3, 2009, 0:51 IST
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The judiciary is perceived as a conservative institution. It does not easily accept innovation in procedures and interpretation of law. However, it has begun to admit, reluctantly, the recent advances in science and technology. A decade ago, it introduced computerisation in courts. One can file cases in the Supreme Court online, check the status of the case on the web and even read judgements of the past decades. The high courts are lagging behind in this, and there is no coordination between the Supreme Court and other courts. Many tribunals have neglected their sites after the inauguration.
However, some institutions have gone far ahead in the use of technology. The other day, the Central Information Commission used video conferencing for hearing and disposing of a petition seeking information about an application for relief from the PM’s Relief Fund. The petitioner was in Begusarai, Bihar, the commissioner and the defendants were at two separate locations in Delhi. The National Informatics Centre is said to be networking over 400 districts for such facilities.
The Calcutta High Court tried a matrimonial case in which both the husband and wife were abroad. In the case between Alcatel India and Koshika Telecom, a court allowed a sick witness to give evidence via video conferencing. In a child abuse case, the Delhi High Court did the same in view of the age of the victim. Though the Criminal Procedure Code demands the ‘presence’ of witness (Section 273), the court has now ruled that physical presence is not essential. In bail cases of hardened criminals who have a tendency to escape on way to the court, video facilities are being used in several places in Bihar. In contrast, bringing Kasab to the special court in Mumbai by ingenious methods costs crores of rupees.
There is no law in India regulating the use of video conferencing in trials, though the US, UK, Singapore and some other countries have such legislation. The Supreme Court has accepted the value of video conferencing and has laid down certain procedures in its judgement in State of Maharashtra vs Praful Desai (2003). The Evidence Act recognises electronic evidence and the IT Act deals with cyber crimes, but technology is making quantum jumps over snail-paced legislation.
Some computer savvy judges have utilised web facilities in writing judgements. The Madras High Court used a blog by a law student of IIT Kharagpur in its recent judgement in the TVS Motor-Bajaj Auto row over the patent for ‘Flame’ bike. The Supreme Court recently referred to Wikipedia in two of its judgements. While one bench felt that it could not be relied upon, another bench felt that it could be used to check definitions of telecommunication devices.
In criminal law, the use of powder and potions of the Sherlock Holmes era has given way to DNA fingerprinting. Parenthood in matrimonial and succession cases and identities in crimes can be ascertained fairly accurately now. According to the ancient Evidence Act, “maternity was certainty; paternity was presumption.” Now paternity can be established by DNA and the one who refuses to undergo the examination is suspect.
Invocation of the fundamental right to privacy against DNA and other scientific tests has not always been successful. According to Article 20(3) of the Constitution, no one can be compelled to be witness against oneself. However, the Supreme Court has held that giving thumb or finger impression and other forensic practices did not violate this right. The only caveat was that such tests should not be prescribed as a matter of routine, but only in deserving cases (Banarsi Dass vs Teeku Dutta).
However, the courts proceed with great caution in accepting scientific evidence. Criminal courts demand evidence ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ to convict an accused person (he is presumed to be innocent). The courts have to depend upon experts when science and medicine are involved. But experts are not always reliable and they are often called ‘hired guns’.
The quality of the forensic tests, the competence of the lab and other vital factors cloud the value of scientific evidence. This was illustrated in a sensational murder case (Priyadarshini Mattoo) in Delhi last year when the court found the DNA report suspect because of the circumstances surrounding it. Jurists also think that there is a lot of ‘junk science’, raising the question of the admissibility and value of scientific evidence.
The latest Law Commission report has cast a shadow on the value of narco analysis, polygraph and brain fingerprinting, methods considered infallible by some investigators. About the lie detector, it said: “The dirty little secret behind the test is it depends on trickery, not science. Perversely, the test is inherently biased against the truthful.” In this situation, the trial judges are the gatekeepers of scientific evidence. They have to check the evidence for their relevance and reliability and apply the tests of fairness, truth and justice.