INTRODUCTION

A man’s writing seems to be a part of his very flesh and bones, he cannot discard it at will.
When there's a suspect in a crime and the evidence includes a handwritten note, investigators
may call in handwriting experts to see if there's a match. In some cases, it might be the one
piece of evidence that gets a suspect charged and eventually convicted. But what if it's a false
match? How exactly do experts go about analyzing someone's handwriting?

In the world of forensic analysis, which includes crime scene investigation, DNA testing,
fiber analysis, fingerprint analysis, voice identification and narcotics analysis, to name just a
few of the disciplines, handwriting analysis fits into the area of questioned documents.
Questioned document examiners (QDEs) analyze documents for signs of alteration, forgery
and, when sample documents are available, handwriting or typing comparisons to determine
or rule out. Handwriting analysis is a tedious and methodical process that relies on extensive
knowledge of the way people form letters, which characteristics of letter formation are unique
and the physiological processes behind writing - the ways in which a person's fine-motor
skills can affect his or her handwriting and leave clues about the author's identity.

The primary basis of handwriting analysis as a science is that every person in the world has a
unique way of writing. When we were all kids in primary school, we learned to write based
on a particular copybook - a style of writing. Which copybook our handwriting is based on
depends on when and where we grew up. So at first, we all probably wrote in a similar way to
kids of our own age and location. But with the passing of time, those writing characteristics
we learned in school - our style characteristics - became only the underlying method of our
handwriting. We developed individual characteristics that are unique to us and distinguish
our handwriting from someone else's. Most of us don't write the way we did in first or second
grade. And while two or more people may share a couple of individual characteristics, the
chance of those people sharing 20 or 30 individual characteristics is so unlikely that many
handwriting analysts would say it's impossible1.

The process of handwriting analysis when comparing two documents - one by a known au-
thor, one by an unknown author - starts not with checking for similarities, which any of us
could do with a fair degree of accuracy, but instead with checking for differences. It's the
1
Juli Layton’s-“How handwriting analysis works” available at www.science.howstuffworks.com/handwriting-
analysis.htm (Visited on Oct20,2019).
differences that initially determine if it's possible that the same person wrote both pieces of
text. If there are key differences in enough individual characteristics, and those differences do
not appear to be the result of simulation, then the two documents were not written by the
same person. However, if the differences don't rule out a match, and there are significant
similarities in the individual traits in the two documents, singular authorship becomes a
possibility.

Moving from possibility to probability is where the heavy lifting comes in.
 HANDWRITING ANALYSIS

Identification of the handwriting is the most important branch of document forensics.

Analyzing handwriting is a long and careful process which takes in a lot of time, and under
ideal circumstances, a lot of comparison samples. Forensic document examiners often deal
with questions of document authenticity. To determine whether a document is genuine, an
examiner may attempt to confirm who created the document, determine the timeframe in
which it was created, identify the materials used in its preparation or uncover modifications
to the original text. Documents can be examined for evidence of alterations, obliterations,
erasures and page substitutions. Or the examiner can study the methods, materials or
machines that created the document, providing key information that can identify or narrow
the possible sources of the document. The ink, paper, writing tools, ribbons, stamps and seals
used in production of the document may all reveal important clues. The examiner may even
discover valuable evidence in a document’s invisible impressions. A key element of
document examination focuses on handwriting. Forensic examination and comparison of
handwriting, which includes hand printing and signatures, is based on three main principles:

(1) Given a sufficient amount of handwriting, no two skilled writers exhibit identical
handwriting features;

(2) every person has a range of natural variation to his or her writing;

(3) no writer can exceed his or her skill level.2

The various steps involved in the process of handwriting analysis are:

(a) Identification of admitted writings

(b) Collection of admitted writings
(c) Evaluation of writing
(i) Preliminary Examinations
(ii) Principles
 Individuality
 Natural Variations
2
“A Simplified Guide to Forensic Document Examination” available at www.crime-scene-investigator.net
(Visited on October 18, 2019)
  Fundamental divergences
 Personal features
(d) General Qualities
(e) Writing habits
(f) Individual Characteristics
 IDENTIFICATION OF ADMITTED WRITINGS

Admitted writings are found in the office where the person is employed. Applications for
appointment, leave or loan, acquittance rolls, pay, fingerprint records, office noting’s, orders
and acknowledgements are important for the purpose.
Admitted writings are available with the utility services water supply, electricity supply and
municipal authorities. Cancelled cheques and specimen signatures are with the banks.
Telegrams and other postal records are available with the post office, income tax returns are
found in the income tax office.
Admitted writings are found in the college, university or training institution where the suspect
or the victim studied.
Admitted writings are letters to friends, relatives, businessmen, associates, insurances, and
finance companies, lawyers and the like. Vakalatnama is an important source of authentic
signatures.
Financial transactions, sale deeds, contracts, mortgage papers, lease deeds, sale slips, stock
certificates, etc., are good sources of admitted writings.
Signatures and other writings, given by a person in case(s) other than the case in hand, are
useful admitted writings. They prove especially useful in those cases where the person whose
writing is required is dead.
In a case of forged Will the alleged testator was dead. His signatures were not available. He
had contested a property dispute case, some years ago. The record of the case was
summoned and the signatures there on compared with disputed signatures.
Admitted writings are written by the suspect when he is not aware that the writing could be
used for comparison purposes with a questioned document. They show natural handwriting
characteristics. They allow detection of disguise in specimen writings.
Admitted writings are essential to evaluate most of the document problems involving
handwriting. No effort, therefore, should be spared to collect the right type of admitted
writings.3

3
B.R. Sharma, Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation and Trials 686 Universal Law Publishing Co., 5 th ed.,
2014.
 COLLECTION OF ADMITTED WRITINGS

The following points should be kept in mind while collecting admitted writings4:

1. Authenticity:

The admitted signatures and writings should be authentic. Some signatures are written by
proxy. If such signatures are submitted for comparison, the whole investigation will proceed
on the wrong lines. The admitted signatures and writings should be accepted as authentic
only when the same are proved genuine by independent evidence and preferably accepted by
the concerned person as his writings.

2. Period:

The admitted writings and signatures should belong to the period during which the
questioned document was executed. Some writings should belong to the periods immediately
before and some immediately after the execution of the questioned document. The
handwriting in the formative stage, for example, the handwriting of school children and even
of college boys undergoes major changes. If set handwriting is compared with the
handwriting of the formative stage, inconclusive results are obtained.

Old age, illness and accidents affect the writing abilities of a person. If the suspect has
suffered illness, accident or has grown old, the fact should be taken into consideration while
collecting the admitted standards and the expert should be informed accordingly. Illness and
old age sometimes deteriorate the handwriting drastically. Standard writings in such cases
should be as from as close a period to the alleged period of the questioned writings as
possible.

4
B.R. Sharma, Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation and Trials, Chapter-7, Universal Law Publishing Co.,
5th ed., 2014.
 EVALUATION

Identification of handwriting of a person is highly specialized. It needs a lot of experience,

study and patience. Never submit the documents to unqualified, self-styled or known
dishonest experts.

The identifications are based upon certain principles and detailed evaluation of study of both
class and personal individual handwriting characteristics. It has developed a terminology of
its own.

Handwriting identification and finding solution to various document problems is a time

consuming exercise. Never push the expert to hurry up as it can lead to erroneous results and
hence miscarriages of justice.

1. Preliminary Examination5

The preliminary examination of a disputed document is done to find out if the document case
is fit for detailed examination or not. Usually, the following points are required to be checked
in case of a disputed document:

1. Whether or not the document is free from alterations?

2. Whether or not the document is free from trimming?
3. Whether or not the document is free from obliteration?
4. Whether or not the document is free from the infirmities of:
a) Old age?
b) Intoxication?
c) Disease?

The preliminary examination, thus, determines the adequacy, authenticity and integrity of the
input materials and lays and provides the basic material for data generation through detailed
examination and evaluation.

2. Principles6

5
B.R. Sharma, Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation and Trials, Chapter-9, Universal Law Publishing Co.,
5th ed., 2014.
 I. Individuality

The handwriting of a person has a personality of its own which is different from that of any
other individual, even from his or father, mother, sister or brother; son or daughter; teacher or
friend.

"The handwriting of every individual is unique.

No two persons can write exactly alike."

Writing is a conscious act but repetition with passage of time makes it a subconscious act.
The output, to start with, is the sum total of schooling, training, writing experience,
environments and occupation in addition to mental, physical and emotional make-up of the
person. It is influenced by changes in life. No two persons can have the same mental or
physical makeup or same experiences in life. Therefore, their writings will always vary.

II. Natural Variations7

Natural variations in handwriting are subjective. They vary in nature and number with
different individuals but the range of variation for an individual is more or less constant,
within a range, with the same individual. Natural variations are due to the fact that our brain
does not work like a computer. It gets distracted easily both by the external and internal
distractions. Likewise, our fingers, hands and arms are not printing machines to recreate the
same writing time and again. Further, the handwriting of a person shows some variations due
to:

1. Fatigue
2. Illness
3. Age
4. Writing materials
5. Writing position
6. Physical disturbance (such as movement in a train)
7. Writing with the dormant hand (other than the one normally used)
6
B.R. Sharma, Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation and Trials, Chapter-4, Universal Law Publishing Co.,
th
5 ed., 2014.
7
B.R. Sharma, Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation and Trials, Chapter-4, Universal Law Publishing Co.,
5th ed., 2014.
8. Emotional disturbance
9. Lack of concentration during the writing process
10. Influence of drinks, drugs or both.

These variations affect the pictorial effect, line quality, size and slant. They do not change the
fundamental characteristics. However, with limited writing it may not be possible to identify
the writer due to these changes, in some cases.

In guided handwritings, where the hand of the writer is held by someone else, there is little
which is identifiable. Guided signatures are the result of the working of two minds. The result
cannot be attributed entirely to any of the two writers. No expert opinion is possible in such
cases.

III. Fundamental Divergences

The identification of common source of two handwritings can be established only if in

addition to similarities observed, there are no fundamental divergences.

General similarities are found in persons having been to the same school or their being
members of the same family inter se. For example, parents and siblings brothers, sisters, sons
or daughters may show general similarities. When the writings are closely examined, basic
differences are found which permit individualization of the handwritings.

IV. Personal Features

Handwriting of an individual is identified by a careful study of personal features. They are:

a) General qualities
b) Writing habits
c) Individual characteristics
General Qualities:
The following general qualities are noted and compared:8

1. Pictorial Effect

The pictorial effect of a writing shows the skill of the writer. The handwriting may be
clumsy, artistic, forceful, hesitating, labored, or nervous. A clumsy handwriting indicates
little writing experience. The illiterate or the semi-literate writes clumsily. Artistic
handwriting indicates artistic bent of mind. Forceful writing is found in persons who write
with abandon. Hesitating and labored writing is by persons who are ill, old or feeble and with
most of the forgers. It is very common in simulated or traced forgeries. Some persons are
nervous and it is evident from the irregularities in their writings.
The pictorial effect is the general appearance of the writing. A forger, if he is to succeed,
must imitate the pictorial effect. One, therefore, must not go by the pictorial effect.
'Appearance are deceptive' is literally true in handwriting identification.

2. Rhythm

Rhythm is found in the handwritings of educated persons with ample writing experience
only. Rhythm is indicated by the flow of the writing, correct line quality and punctuation
and proportionate formation of letters and figures. It is the product of a lot of writing and
reading experience and cannot be imitated.

3. Style

Style primarily depends upon the initial training but it gets modified according to individual
whims and adoption of certain forms which appeal to the individual. The style may be
round, angular or a mixture of the two. It may be artistic or simple.

4. Movement

The writing may have been executed with the movements of the fingers, the wrist, the
forearm, the whole arm or a combination of some of these.
The writing by movement of fingers alone is slow. The size of letters is small. Rhythm is
8
Supra note 3 at p.- 697
usually absent. School children or illiterate persons generally write with linger movement
mostly.
In writing with a hand movement the wrist acts as a fulcrum. The result is a slow and
laboured writing. The pictorial effect is usually poor.
The use of forearm and hand movements for writing is common with most of the writers
who write with speed. The writing is smooth and symmetrical.
The whole arm movement writing is possible when the arm does not rest on a support. The
writing is usually large and sometimes clumsy. The writing on a wall or on a blackboard
involves whole arm movement. Most of the experienced writers combine finger, hand and
forearm movements.

5. Pen Position

The pen may be held at an angle to the writing surface, varying from 15° to 90°. Usually it is
held at about 60°. The angle of the pen with reference to the base line also varies and is useful
in the identification of handwriting. Again, the nib of a pen is held at an angle. Consequently,
the nib wears in a characteristic fashion. If the pressure is on the left hand side, the left part
wears more than the right part and vice versa. A few individuals may put equal pressure on
both the parts of a split nib pen.

6. Line Quality

The lines written by an experienced writer are smooth and uniform. The starting, finishing
and embellishment strokes are natural and smooth. Connecting strokes are uniform and
continuous except where the writer habitually lifts the pen to complete or modify the letters.
On the other hand, in simulated and traced forgeries there are frequent pen pauses, pen-lifts,
kinks and hesitation marks. The lines look laboured and drawn especially at starting and
finishing points, connecting and embellishment strokes and on curvatures of certain letters.

The line quality can, however, be poor if the writer is:

1. Weak and feeble.

2. Illiterate or semi-literate.
3. Unfamiliar with the script.
4. Using dormant hand to execute the writing.
5. Writing in a moving vehicle or in an unnatural position.
6. Using defective pen, paper, ink or support.

7. Skill

The skill acquired by a person depends upon his initial training, writing experience and his
physical, emotional and intellectual personality. In addition, artistic bent of mind in some
persons play the deciding role. Once a person acquired graphic maturity/ it remains with him
for a long time, He cannot improve upon it. It is because of this principle that a person with
inferior skill cannot simulate the writing of a person with superior skill. He can thus be easily
eliminated as a suspect.

8. Tremors

Tremors are natural in the handwriting of some persons who are old, sick, drunk or illiterate.
These tremors have a pattern of their own. In simulated tremors, the forger is likely to place
them at wrong places and the number, shape and size of the tremors are different. The
fraudulent nature of the writing can, therefore, be established.