In State of Bombay v. Kathi Kalu Oghad, AIR 1961 SC 1808, the Supreme Court considered the validity of…

In State of Bombay v Kathi Kalu Oghad (AIR 1961 SC 1808) a Constitution Bench considered whether taking specimen handwriting, signatures or finger impressions from an accused under "Section 73 of the Indian Evidence Act" offends Article 20(3). It held that such specimens are identifying material, not compelled testimony, so the provision is valid. Sections 68, 79 and 88 deal with attested documents and presumptions about documents and were not in issue.

Current law: The corresponding court-comparison provision is BSA section 72. BSA commenced on 1 July 2024; section 170 preserves the Evidence Act for proceedings pending immediately before that date.