MANUAL OF

FINGER PRINT BUREAU

PUNJAB POLICE

PREPARED BY:

THE PUNJAB STATE FINGER PRINT BUREAU PHILLAUR

(REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION 2011)

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 Preface

Scientific investigation of crime has overtaken the hitherto fore deployed methodology of
functioning almost in every sphere of Police working. And investigation of crime which, till of late, has
been suffering with obsolescence of equipment has under gone a sea-change. Finger Print System has
come to be recognised as an infallible system in human identification and this has, therefore, acquired a
very significant role in sieving out criminals out of a mass of humanity. The technical know-how in the
Punjab State Finger Print Bureau in its maintenance of record through computerization has provided
significant help and lead to the investigating officer sometimes, even, at the scene of crime by
rummaging chance prints promptly. The police personnel of all ranks are taught and acquainted with of
the role which State Finger Print Bureau can play in the investigation of crime, detection and
apprehension of criminals and speedy disposal of a case or cases in courts of law. The revised Finger
Print Bureau Manual is a ready reckoner, of practical functioning of the Bureau, which is strictly in
consonance with Punjab Police rules and provisions of the Punjab Police Act 2007.

The manual in the revised edition and form, has an objective of systematic dissemination of
knowledge, amongst police personnel and an emphasis to involve them to develop scientific temper to
solve riddles of crime.

In this connection I wish to record my deep appreciation to the very useful and laborious work
done by the committee comprising Sh. S.M.S. Bhalla, Sh. Chander Parkash Sharma (both Ex. Directors
of State Finger Print Bureau) and Sh. Sartaj Singh, Director of State Finger Print Bureau in
accomplishing this task. A keen association of Sh. S.M.S. Bhalla with the cause of the development of
the Bureau, is admirable. I wish the entire team a consistent growth of interest in the development of
the infrastructure, staff and operational activities.

Rajinder Singh, IPS,

ADGP, Rules,
Punjab, Chandigarh.

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 CONTENTS

Chapter - I (Introduction and History)

Section Index
Introduction 1
History 1
Law 3

Chapter – II (Finger Print System)

Definitions 4 6
Method of taking finger prints 7 10
Instructions for secondary marks and scars 11 12
search slips 13 15
Proof of previous convictions 15 16
Preparation of P.R.(Jail) Slips and F.P.(Record) Slips 17 24
Testing of F.P.(Record) Slips 24 25
Disposal of F.P.(Record) Slips 25 25
Disposal of P.R.(Jail) Slips 25 27
Instruction of proficient 27 28
Posting of proficient 27 28
Duties of proficient 28 29
Registers 29 32
Deaths of P.R. Convicts 32 32
Inspection of F.P. Offices 32 32
Intimation of proclaimed offenders, escape and absconders to Finger 33 34
Print Bureau
List of Finger Print Bureaux and their address in India 34 37
Forms :-
Search Slip (Form No. 13) 38 40
Returns of convicts classed as P.R.T. [Form No. 26(1)] 41 41
Finger Print Slip [Form No. 26(2)A] 42 43
Finger Print Slip [Form No. 26(2)B] 44 45
Late and overdue P.R. Slips [Forms No. 34(1)(a) & 34(1)(b)] 46 47
Register showing disposal of F.P. and P.R. Slips prepared and 48 48
received [Form No. 39]

Register of search slips [Form No. 40] 49

Despatch cheques [Form No. 41] 50
Statement of deaths [Form No. 42] 51
Annual statement of search slips [Form No. 49] 52
Annual inspection report [Form No. 43] 53 55
Forms of Registers 56 62

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 Chapter – III (Organisational setup of Finger Print System in the State)

Charge of the Finger Print Bureau 1 63

Duties of DSP/Inspector in the State Finger Print Bureau 2 63
Distribution of Classification of F.P.(Record) Slips & Search Slips 3 63
The duties of Experts and staff 4 64
Photographic Studio and duties of the photographer 5 65
Modernisation 6 66
Entry in Finger Print Bureau, promotion and accommodation 7 66-67
Duties of the Clerical Staff 8 67-69
Organisational setup of Finger Print Bureau, Phillaur, 70
Finger Print Pocket Bureau 70
Posting of Finger Print Experts at Ranges / Districts 70
Finger Print Slip received for record 9 70
Untraced Search Slip 10 71
Traced Search Slip 11 71
Procedure on receipt of summons to prove identity of accused 12 71-72
Procedure regarding expert opinions in civil cases and slips of 13 73
prisoners escaped from jail
Slips of absconders and convicts reported dead 14 73
File book of death reports 15 73
Slips received from other states 16 73

Chapter – IV (Finger Print at scene of crime)

Introduction 74
Use of Finger Print powders to develop the Finger Print impression 1 74-75
Examination of finger prints on articles, their preservation for 2 75-78
examination and packing of exhibits
Apparatus required at a police station 3 75-78
Methods of recording finger prints of dead body 78-79
Use of cadaver's Finger Print taking kit 79-80
Decomposed dead body 81
Suggestion for finger print operator taking finger prints from the 81-82
dissecting skin pieces in the lab of the State Finger Print Bureau,
Phillaur

Chapter – V (Uses, Classification and arrangement of Finger Print Slips)

Brief history 1 83-85

Patterns 7 85
Pattern Area 8 85
Type Line 9 86
Fixed Points 10 86
Delta (outer terminus) 11 86

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Core (inner terminus) 12 87
Arch 13 88
Tented Arch 14 88
Loop 15 89
Ulnar and Radial Loop 16 89
Essentials of Loops 17 90
Invaded Loop 18 90
Crested Loop 19 90
Nutant Loop 20 90
Whorl 21 91
Composite 22 92
Central Pocket Loop 23 92-93
Lateral Pocket Loop 24 93-94
Twinned Loop 25 95
Accidentals 26 95
Sub Division of Loops 27 96
Sub Division of Whorls 28 97
Ridge tracing 29 97
Symbols used 30 98
Primary Classification 31 98-99
Secondary Classification 33 100-103
Sub Classification 34 104-106
Sub arrangement chart 107-110
Key of Sub arrangement chart
Diagrams (Loops and Whorls) 111
Comparison 112

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 CHAPTER-I
INTRODUCTION:

The heterogeneous composition of population, rapid urbanization,

intense mobility, ever increasing temptation and opportunities add new
and disturbing dimension to our way of life. In this context, crime is seen
as a deviant form of conduct inimical to social cohesion.
Criminal investigation finds science as its ablest aid in ferreting
out truth and in revealing culprits. Crime laboratory establishes a
connection between victim and the criminal. Finger print science as a
means of human identification comes as a big aid to the cops in
connecting the criminal with the crime. This science has been recognised
by courts as perfect, infallible, unforgeable and science of exactitude. The
science of finger prints is experiencing a startling renewal with the
advent of computer technology which further aims to narrow down the
time factor and feed accurate result regarding antecedents of arrested
persons to the cop, sometimes even at the scene of crime.

HISTORY:
Finger Print Bureau started as an Anthropometric unit of Police in
1892-93. Mr. Rundle, the then Principal of Police Training School, took
personal interest in developing the Anthro unit at Phillaur. And, to build
up this system he took Deputy Inspector Shamsher Singh and Sergeant
Ahmad Khan both instructors in the Police Training School to Calcutta in
1893 where Anthropometric system had been adopted for human
identification. These officers qualified themselves as measurers from
Calcutta and on return to Phillaur started the system in 1894 in selected
districts of Punjab. This unit had a record of 15,500 cards at the close of
the year 1894. And, 18 Persons were reported as previous convicts
during the year 1896 with the help of this system. The staffing pattern of
this unit at that time was as under:-

Inspectors Sub-Inspectors Head Constable

1 2 1

Inspector Shamsher Singh was the first technical head of this

office. This office was a nucleous to suggest advanced ways and means to
improve this system. After sometime, on the suggestion of this office,
thumb impression was added on the Anthropometric Card.

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 The year 1898 saw further innovation as ten digit fingerprints were
also added along with anthropometric measurements on the Card. This
addition made the preparation of the card cumbersome and time
consuming and in the year 1900 only Finger Prints were recorded on the
card for determining identity of persons. There were 51,027 cards on
record in the office at that time.

Sir E.R.Henry then an employee of the East India Co. with the help
of Mr. Haque who was very strong and proficient in mathematics and Mr.
Hem Chander Bose took up the problem of classification of fingerprints
very seriously. They devised the present system of ten digit classification
and handed over the papers to Mr. Henry who unflinchingly monopolized
all the credit for the new system and never mentioned their names in his
Book. However, the system prevalent at that time was “Natives labour
performed for the English belonged to the English”. (1957 Patna journal
of Medicine).

A committee of A. Pedlar and General Strham was constituted to

explore if identification of persons by fingerprints be adopted in India.
The Governor General-in-Council decided in the year 1897 that the
system of identification of criminals by finger prints be adopted in British
India and E.R. Henry’s system of classification who was at that time
Inspector General of Police, Bengal was circulated to all the States.

In Punjab, order of the local government regarding introduction of

this system was published by Inspector General of Police, Punjab in the
Punjab Police gazette on 11th Oct 1899.

With the adoption of finger print system, name of Anthropometric

Bureau was changed to Bureau of Criminal Investigation in the year
1902 which was later on again changed and named as Punjab Finger
Print Bureau. There were 74,673 record slips on record in the year 1901.
The Bureau became technical Branch of the Punjab CID in the year
1904.

The post of Inspector in-charge Finger Print Bureau was elevated

to that of Dy. Superintendent of police in the year 1924 and Sardar
Bahadur Sardar Harnam Singh was the first officer to occupy this seat.

The strength of the staff was augmented in the year 1962 and it
stood as under:-

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 DSP Inspector SI’s ASI’s HCs Constables
1 3 23 6 7 4

The post of Director then occupied by Sh. S.M.S.Bhalla was

elevated to that of Superintendent of Police in the year 1978 and the
strength of the staff augumented as mentioned below :-

SP Inspector SI’s ASI’s HCs Constables

1 6 44 7 9 5

The overall Administrative Control of the Bureau which was with

the ADGP, Computer was changed and entrusted to ADGP, Crime from
the year 2009.

Law: The Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920 empowers police to take

Measurements including Finger Prints of suspects and arrested persons.

Indian Evidence Act (Section 3) defines fact in issue. It is an enabling

provision for an expert to carry out comparison.
Section 9, 45 and section 73: Indian Evidence Act Section 45 was
silent regarding opinion on finger Prints. It was in the year 1899 that
section 45 and 73 of the Indian Evidence Act was amended by act V of
1899 so as to include Expert Opinion on Finger Prints.
Article 20 of the Constitution :- This article lays down that no person
shall be forced to be a witness against himself. It was held by some
judicial pronouncement that forcing an under trial or suspect to give
finger impressions amounted to creating of evidence against himself;
This controversy has been laid at rest by various judicial
pronouncements holding that it does not amount to manufacturing or
creating of evidence against the criminals_____ rather it is siezing of some
available material on the body of a criminal or under trial. Justice
Holmes made significant observation in this context;
"The prohibition of compelling a man in a criminal case to be a
witness against himself is prohibition of the use of physical and moral
compulsion to extract communication from him, not an exclusion of his
body as evidence when it may be material."

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 CHAPTER-II

FINGER PRINT SYSTEM

SECTION 1

DEFINITIONS :-

The palmar and plantar surface of human hand & foot are
clothed by skin which is different from the skin covering other parts of
the body. This skin is corrugated with narrow ridges and there are
neither hairs nor sebaceous (oil) glands on it. However, sweat glands are
in abundance and are relatively of larger size.
Dermato- glyphics (Derma-skin + Glyphics-curve) is the
name for all external features of the skin and it applies to the anatomy
which embraces its study.

1. Ridges:- These are the most important anthropological details and

provide an incomparably sure criterion of identity than any other bodily
feature.

The skin ridges are evident as slightly elevated lines on the

surface of the skin, separate by narrow groves (Sulci). Individual ridges
present numerous interruption, branching and other variations. The
ridge summit are the orifices of sweat gland-ducts. Each ridge has a
single row of pores spaced at fairly regular intervals. The distance
between the sweat pores on a ridge are usualy about equal to the width
of the ridge.

Ridge width over the hand as a whole averages 0.48

millimeter in young male adults and in women these are narrow than
men 0.30 m.m.

At age 1 12 to 2 12 month (Premature born body) the width is

0.15 m.m.

In new born baby the width average is 0.18 m.m. the range being
0.10-0.22 m.m.
The printing of finger involves transfer of ink film from raised lines
and the sweat pores appear as uninked dots within the inked line which
indicate the contact of ridge summit. The quality of finger print depends
upon the pressure applied in making prints and repeated prints of same
digit are bound to exhibit difference of technical origin. Excess pressure

9
may push ink into a furrow (Sulci) which makes the print dark or a dab
of ink.

The ridges have the following three characteristics:-

a. Unicity
b. Permanence
c. Persistent

2. Finger Prints :- Means the reproduction of impressions of the

papillary ridges on the top phalanges of the fingers by means of printer's
ink and include prints of the thumb and are either "rolled" or "plain".

3. Rolled Prints :- Shows the complete contour of the bulbs of the

fingers, one delta in case of the loop and two in case of whorls should be
visible.

4. Plain Print :- Shows tip of finger pointing to the top of the form
except in the case of plain print of left thumb on the reverse of the slip.

5. Identified :- Means a person whose residence and antecedents are

fully known to the investigating officer.

6. Unidentified :- Means a person whose residence and antecedents are

not known to the investigating officer.

7. Proficient :- Means an officer who holds the rank of Sub-Inspector

of Police (Section 2 of Identification of Prisoner's Act 33 of 1920) who is
qualified to take clear well defined rolled and plain impression of digits.

8. Expert :- Means an officer not below the rank of S.I. of Police

posted on the strength of Finger Print Bureau and who has passed the
prescribed examination conducted by All India Board for Examination of
Finger Print Expert constituted by Home Affairs Govt. of India and has
obtained a certificate from the said board as an Expert.

9. Traced :- Means a person whose antecedents and previous

history have been traced from a Bureau's record.

10. Untraced :- Means a person whose antecedents and previous

history have not been traced from a Bureau's record.

11. Suspect :- Means any person under arrest or liable to arrest for a
criminal offence, whose identity and criminal history are not fully known.

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12. Convict :- Means a person who is convicted for the first time.
13. District:- The word District as used in the rules of the manual
means all the districts of Punjab and Chandigarh (U.T.).
14. District Sr. No.:- Means Sr. No. of Finger Print register of the
District in which the finger print slip is prepared.
15. P.R. Convict :- Means Police Registered Convict and include all
convicted persons whose FP record slips have been taken and placed for
permanent record in FPB in accordance with section [25(1)].

16. P.R.T. :- Means Police Register Convict who is clamed as under

Section 25(3) :-
a. An unidentified or
b. A person convicted of offence under section 232 to 235
IPC or
c. In the opinion of concerned S.P. is a habitual coin
maker, a dangerous habitual criminal a dacoit or a
professional hereditary or specially dangerous
criminal.

17. Finger Print Slips :- These are of three kinds:-

a. Finger Print Record Slip:- Finger Print Record Slip [Form
No. 26(2)-A] is used for record in the Finger Print Bureau. It provides
space for ten rolled impression and four plain prints of both hands, on
one side and prisoner's name, parentage and conviction on the other
side.
b. P.R. Jail Slip:- P.R. Jail Slip [Form No. 26(2)-B] which
besides the entries mentioned in Finger Print Record Slips shows the
entries made by Jail officials.
c. Search Slip:- Search Slip [Form No. 13] prepared by the
Distt. Police and used for making references to the Finger Print Bureau
for ascertaining his antecedents.

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 METHOD OF TAKING FINGER PRINTS

Section 2

Equipments required for recording Finger Prints:-

A. Table or stand :- The height of the table on which prints are

recorded should be about 4 feet in height. The top must be
smooth and level and the edges cut square.

B. Printer's ink :- Why we use printer ink

i. It dries quickly with the result that the prints are seldom
smeared when one card is placed on the top of another.
ii. It can be thinned when it becomes thick either by
exposing it to heat or by adding a few drops of machine
oil- the latter method when used results in producing
poorer prints.
iii. It produces prints which reproduce clearly when
photographed.
Ordinary ink or Pad ink dries slowly, cannot be controlled
as to its thickness and does not produce the photographs
well.

C. Tin slab :- The size of tin slab should be 6" x 3". Its surface
should be smooth and clean. It should be cleaned daily and
ink of the previous day should be removed with the help of
Benzine or oil before it is re-inked. The following precautions
are desirable:-
i. Excessive pressure while inking of digits should be
avoided.
ii. Finger should not be rolled over the same part of the
slab used earlier until it is rerolled with ink.
iii. Too much of ink should not be used.
iv. The slab should be placed on the elevated stand so that
the subject forearms assume a horizontal position when
the fingers are being inked. This is to avoid accidental
strain or pressure on the fingers.
v. Most important precaution is that bone radius should be
made to revolve about bone Ulna. In order to ensure

12
 natural movements in recording rolled prints, the thumb
is to be rolled towards and the fingers away from the
centre of the subject body. This process relieves strain
and keeps fingers relaxed.

D. Rubber Roller :- Size of the Rubber Roller should be 1"

diameter and 3" x 4" long. A few small drops of ink be
squeezed from the tube on the slab. It should be thoroughly
rolled until an even film appears over the surface. The ink
can be distributed more quickly and evenly by repeatedly
lifting the roller at the end of the forward and backward
movement instead of making constant contact with the
plate. The film of ink should be about half the elevation of
the ridges. When the print is faint, add more ink but if too
much ink is on the plate, some of it can be removed by
placing a sheet of paper (not blotting paper) on the plate and
passing the roller over it.
When the inked plate looks very wet and shiny, it is almost
certain that too much ink has been spread over it.

Section 3 :- While taking palm prints the slab should be large so as to

cover entire area of palm on which ink is spread by means of rubber
roller. The palm is inked by processing it on the ink slab and the print is
obtained by pressing the inked palm on the paper in the same way as the
plain finger prints are taken
Or

Palm can be inked with the help of the roller with particular attention to
the base of the fingers.

Section 4 (1) :- The fingers of the subject should be washed with soap
and rubbed clean and dry with a towel or duster, as the slightest
perspiration will cause blotches and blur the print. Only the inner
portion of the upper phalanges of the fingers should be inked. To take a
“rolled” impression, place the finger on the ink slab, the plane of the nail
being at right angles to the slab, and turn over till the surface, which
originally faced to the left, now faces to the right. For a “plain”
impression, place the ridge surface of the finger flat upon the inked slab.

(2) :- Another and perhaps less complex method of inking the

fingers is to apply lightly the inked roller to the tips of the fingers.

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Section 5:- For convenience in taking “rolled” prints, the slip should be
folded at the lines indicated and the fold placed in line with the edge of
the table.

Section 6(1):- The “rolled” prints of the right hand should be taken first,
each finger being inked and impressed before the next finger in rotation
is inked. When the “rolled” prints of the right hand have been taken, the
operator will take the “plain” prints of the four fingers of that hand
simultaneously in the space provided for them on the slip. When the
right hand has been finished the operator will proceed to take the prints
“rolled” and “plain” of the left hand in a similar manner.
(2):- Some times freak condition of the hands are encountered
which arise from abnormalities. It is possible that a person may have six
fingers or may have webbed digits.
When there is congenital absence of finger such problem arises as
the stumps of missing fingers might be mistaken as a result of
amputation. Joined or webbed fingers on the right hand present little
difficulty where there is a well defined pattern in respect of each joined
digit as they fall into natural sequence. But if these occur on the left
hand then it is an other matter.
Webbing seems peculiar to the middle and ring finger- if the digits
of left hand are joined together then the order of the prints as they
appear on the form will be reversed. The ring finger occupying the space
of the middle finger print vice versa. This difficulty can be over come by
taking separate impression on pieces of paper and fixing them on the
form in the correct order.
Double Thumbs :- These fall in two categories :-
i. Where there are two separate bones in the distal phalange of
the digits and two separate nails.
ii. Flabby appendage which some time disclose only an
adumbration of papillary ridges.

In the first category, some thumb shows two distinct patterns others
reveal a cleavage of pattern common to both as normal thumb had been
separated longitudinally while others disclose a normal pattern and only
by printing the extreme tip of the thumb is any abnormality revealed.

Section 7 :- When the finger prints of both hands have been taken, the
slip will be turned over and the subject’s name, residence, other details
and convictions will be filled in. The subject will then sign the form, or

14
make his mark if unable to write, and immediately afterwards a plain
print of his left thumb will be taken in the space provided for the
purpose. The F.P. slip of one prisoner should be completed before that of
another is commenced, otherwise there is a risk of some of the
particulars appertaining to one prisoner being entered in the slip of
another.

Section 8 :- The following points should be specially noted in preparing

finger print slips: -
A. Impressions must invariably be taken with the tip of the
finger pointing to the top of the form, except in the case of
the “plain” print of the left thumb on the reverse of the slip.
B. The “rolled” prints should show the complete contour of
the bulbs of the fingers. One delta in the case of “loops”
and two in the case of “whorls” should be visible.
C. The “rolled” print of each finger must be taken in the space
allotted for that finger and the impression should not
project beyond that space. The impression of the upper
phalange of the finger only should appear.

D. All names of persons or places should be written very

legibly; all entries should be as concise as possible and
convictions entered in chronological order.

Section 9 :- If a finger is missing or is so deformed that it is impossible

to obtain an impression, the fact will be noted in ink in the space allotted
for that finger by the words “missing” or “deformed”. In the case of
double fingers the prints of both fingers should be taken if possible, but
the print of the more prominent of the two invariably should be taken.
Deformities, cuts, scars and disease marks interfering with the legibility
of the impressions should be fully described, and it should be
stated if they are temporary or permanent. Subjects suffering from open
cuts or scars in any of the upper phalanges of the fingers should not (if
this can be arranged) be finger printed until the cuts or scars have
healed. Finger Prints of lepers are not to be taken on any account.
Persons suffering from contagious and infectious disease should also not
be finger printed until they have completely recovered. In the case of
persons having their fingers crumpled or cut, their palm prints and in
the case of those having their hands cut, their sole prints shall be taken
separately on a white foolscap paper of good quality. Both the prints
shall be attached to the convict’s F.P. slip.

15
Section 10 :- The Proficient must be quite satisfied, so far as a non-
professional man can be, that the mark or scar he is describing is likely
to be permanent.
To meet the case of the same person being measured more than once,
and to ensure that the same marks are selected for record by the several
measures, officers recording measurements will select these marks in the
following order: -
(1) Head; (2) Arms; (3) Front and back of Trunk ; (4) Legs.
Only conspicuous permanent marks or scars should be
recorded. Two or at the outside three such marks or scars are sufficient
now that thumb impressions are taken ; when a subject has no
conspicuous or characteristic marks, it is sufficient for the Proficient to
note this fact.
The following kinds of marks and scars should be searched for:-
Birth marks – Such as moles, warts, harelip, strawberry marks,
etc.
Disease Marks – Made by small-pox, etc.
Accidental marks –Resulting from burns, scalds, cuts, loss of
limbs, injuries to eyes, etc.
Artificial marks – Tattooing.

Marks of circumcision should not be searched for.

Age marks – Such as decay or loss of teeth, baldness, etc.
The subject should be examined and measured for marks in the
position of a shoulder at attention, palms of hands to the front,
and the position of the mark or scar indicated as follows: -

(1) On the face the distance from any two fixed points such as
corner of eyes, eyebrows, nostrils, ears, etc.
(2) On the arms the distance from the tip of middle finger,
noting whether posterior, anterior, external or internal.
(3) On the front trunk, breast and belly, an imaginary line
should be taken passing along the median line, through
the navel downwards and through the middle of the throat
upwards.

Marks will then be either on the line, or to the right or left

of it ; if on the line, they will be noted as X cm. above or

16
 below the navel. If to the right, X cm. above or below navel,
and Y cm. to the right or left, measuring the distance above
or below navel to that spot on the line which is level with
the mark, and then measuring at right angles from the
imaginary line to the mark. See figure (N.B.–The words
right and left refer to the person measured, and not to the
right and left of the measurer.) (Fig 1)

A being a scar on right breast, measure from N (navel)

to C point on imaginary line XZ, level with A, and then from
C to A at right angles to XZ. On the slip it would be noted
as “scar 16 cm. above navel and 5 cm. to the right.” In the
same way, mark B, “scar 4 cm. below navel and 3 cm. to
the left,” and so on. (Fig 1)

FIG. 1

(4) On back of trunk a similar line will be taken along the spine,
and marks measured in the same way, taking distance above
or below the 7th vertebra.

(5) On the legs the mark will be noted as anterior, posterior,

internal, external and the distance from the ground will be
given.

The position of the mark and scars will be ascertained with a

rule, tape or piece of paper carefully marked to millimeters,
and these will be recorded on the P.R. (Jail) slip.

17
 DUTIES OF THE DISTRICT POLICE

Search Slips

Section 11(1) :- Police officers involved in the investigation of crime,

preparation of charge sheets shall utilize, record of Finger Print Bureau
in determing their antecedents by search slip reference of persons
arrested in offences punishable for one year or above (Identification of
Prisoners Act, XXXIII of 1920, Section 4).

(2) In case of offences other than those punishable with

rigorous imprisonment for a term of one year or upwards, search slip of
such person shall be prepared at any time during such investigation
under an order from magistrate 1st Class.(Section 5 of Act XXXIII of
1920).

Section 12 :- The officer in charge of a police station shall, in case

where a person has been arrested and sent for trial, state when
submitting the charge sheet whether the identity and antecedents of the
person have been fully ascertained or not , and if a record slip is known
to exist of such person, the fact shall be mentioned and the district serial
number of the slip quoted. These particulars shall also be entered on the
Identity Certificate.

Section 13 :- The fact of search slip having been despatched to the

bureau with the date of its despatch shall be entered on the charge sheet
and in the relevant case diary.

Section 14 :- Search slips submitted under section 13 shall be promptly

dealt with by the Bureau, in accordance with the rules and shall be
returned direct to the Superintendent Of Police of the District concerned.

Section 15 :- If an arrested person whose search slip has been prepared

or is reasonably suspected to be a resident of another state, or is likely
to have relations with criminals of another state , a

copy of his search slip shall in addition, be sent by the Superintendent

of Police to the Finger Print Bureau of that state for search.

Section 16 :- If an arrested person whose search slip has been prepared

is unidentified and there are grounds for believing him to be a
professional coiner, counterfeiter of notes, prisoner, thief, forger,
swindler, smuggler in arms, ammunition, opium or excisable articles or a

18
political offender, whose operations probably extended beyond the
limits of the State, further search slips may be prepared and dispatched
to any of the Bureaux mentioned in section 48, whenever this is
considered necessary or advisable.

Section 17 :- On receipt of a charge sheet the Superintendent of Police

or, in his absence his representative at headquarters, shall satisfy
himself that the procedure required by section 13 has been duly carried
out (For procedure to be followed when a charge sheet is not sent to
headquarters, see Section 27).

Note— Search slips sent to Bureaux other than Punjab shall be written
in English.

Section 18 (1):- If, when the charge sheet is received, the search slip
has not been returned from the Bureau, the trial should not be delayed,
but should be commenced at once, and if there are grounds for believing
that knowledge of the accused’s antecedents will assist the court in
determining the sentence to be passed, an application shall be made
later-on for adjournment of the case under section 344, Cr.PC., or for the
postponement of judgment under section 366, Cr. P.C., pending result of
reference to the Bureau remands under section 167, Cr.PC should
seldom be necessary for the purpose of ascertaining an accused’s identity
under the Finger Print System.

(2) Any case in which a Magistrate declines to grant an

adjournment or postpone his judgment for this purpose shall be
especially reported to ADGP, Crime through proper channel.

Section 19:- If the search slip is received from the Bureau as untraced
the word untraced shall be written in red ink on the charge sheet, but it
shall be the duty of the Superintendent of Police to make every lawful
efforts to discover the identity, residence and antecedents of the accused
person.

Section 20:- Law Officers of Police shall be responsible that all

necessary action is taken whenever search slips are received from the
Bureau in connection with cases tried away from headquarters.

Section 21:- Traced search slips and search slips of unidentified

persons, and of persons resident of districts not mentioned in Section 1
(10), if not required to form part of a judicial file, shall be filed with the
police papers connected with the case.

19
 An untraced search slip, of identified person which is not
required to form part of a judicial file, shall be sent to the home police
station of the individual concerned. There it will be placed –
(i) With the history sheet of the individual, or
(ii) With the personal file of the individual if a history
sheet does not exist, or
(iii) In the village bundle of information sheets, etc., if no
history sheet or personal file exists.
Note :- When a personal file is destroyed, otherwise than on the
death of the individual, any search slip or finger print slip filed therein
will be transferred to the village bundle of information sheets [see Police
Rule 23.17(7)(b)]. Such finger print records will be destroyed only on the
death of the individual or on his attaining the age of 70 years.

PROOF OF PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS

Section 22 :- If on the return of the search slip from the Finger Print
Bureau, it is proved that previous convictions have been traced against
the accused, steps shall be taken to prove these previous convictions,
when necessary, under Section 293 Cr. P.C. which requires –

(1) That a certified copy of previous conviction shall be filed,

and
(2) That the identity of the accused shall be proved.

Section 23 :- In the case of a person who has been previously

convicted more than once, it will generally suffice to prove the last
conviction only through Incharge Judicial Record of the District, provided
that the earlier convictions were proved in the case in which that
conviction was obtained and are mentioned in the judgment.

Section 24 (1) :- The identity of the accused should ordinarily be

proved by the evidence of a police officer who is cognizant of the previous
conviction, or by a jail officer who can recognize the accused as the
prisoner who underwent the previous sentence of imprisonment ; but, if
such witness to identify cannot conveniently be obtained, identity may be
proved, under sections 45 and 73 of the Indian Evidence Act (I of 1872)
as amended by Act V of 1899, by means of Finger Print Expert evidence.
When it is required to prove the identity of the accused person by means
of his finger prints, the following procedure shall be observed: -

20
 (a) The prosecutor shall move the court to issue, under
Section 91 Cr. P.C., a summons to the Officer Incharge
of the Finger Print Bureau in possession of the traced
slip to produce from the record and send by
post under a registered cover the original finger print
slip containing the finger prints of the convict whom the
prosecution alleges the accused to be , in order that the
court may compare the finger prints taken before it with
the finger prints on the slips on record in the Bureau . A
spare copy of the slip containing the finger prints and
previous convictions of the convict concerned taken, by
the “proficient” in the presence of the magistrate, shall
invariably accompany such summons and shall be
retained in the Bureau in place of the original slip sent
to the court.

(b) If, on the production of this slip, the accused does not
admit that the prints on it are his, the court shall be
asked to proceed under section 45 of the Indian
Evidence Act and take the opinion of an expert
summoned from the State Bureau for the purpose.
(c) If the slip has been traced by the Punjab Bureau, a
demand on the summons for the production of the
traced slip by the expert deputed to give evidence in the
case will suffice and the issue of a separate summons,
under Section 91 Cr.P.C. can be dispensed with.
(2) In a summons for service on an expert, the space for the
name of person summoned should be left blank to be filled
in by the Bureau (High court Circular memo No. 8-1914-G.,
dated 10th May 1901).
(3) Application should be made to the court to fix, if possible, a
day when it will be sitting at headquarters or at a place on
the line of rail.

21
 PREPARATION OF P.R. (JAIL) SLIPS AND F.P. (RECORD) SLIPS

Section 25 (1) :- Under the authority granted by the Identification of

Prisoners Act (XXXIII of 1920) and by the Habitual Offenders (Control
and Reform) Act, 1952 (Punjab Act No. XII of 1952) and subject to the
exceptions detailed in section 9 above, P.R. (Jail) slips and F.P. (Record)
shall be maintained in the Finger Print Bureau at Phillaur as well as for
the Central Finger Print Bureau, Government of India, New Delhi of the
following persons, juvenile or adult, male, female or eunuch:
a. All unidentified persons and wanderers convicted of offences
carrying enhanced punishment on reconviction (including
offences carrying enhanced punishment under the
local and special laws), or convicted of offences under
Chapters XII and XVII) of the Indian Penal Code, or offences
under the Arms Act, Opium Act, Excise Act and
Dangerous Drugs Act. (Act No. 11 of 1930), punishable with
rigorous imprisonment for a term of one year or upwards
irrespective of the punishment awarded.
Note:- Slips of persons convicted of offences under the Arms,
Opium, Excise and Dangerous Drugs Acts shall be
prepared for the Central Finger Print Bureau only if they
are smugglers.

b. All identified persons convicted of the above noted offences

irrespective of the punishment awarded, provided that local
criminals shall be finger-printed for the first time only if they
are convicted of the above noted offences for a term of over
one month’s imprisonment, or are ordered to pay fine the
amount of which is more than Rs.50.00, or when the value
of the stolen property is Rs.50.00 or more. However, in the
property cases the principal criterion for finger printing
persons residents of the local police station shall be the
value of the property and not the sentence awarded.
Explanation:- In the case of local criminals, if the value of the property
involved is Rs.50.00 or more they would be finger printed
irrespective of the sentence awarded, but in other cases
however, there will be no need to finger-print them, if the
sentence awarded is one of the fine up to Rs.50.00, or of
imprisonment to one month or less.

22
 c. All persons ordered to furnish bonds under sections 109 and
110 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, or section 69-A of the
Excise Act.
d. All persons convicted of offences under the essential
commodities Act, 1955 (Act No.10 of 1955) and rules and
orders framed and issued there under.
e. All persons convicted of offences under Section 109/104,
120-B, 170, 241, 254,302, 303, 304, 307, 311, 326 to 329,
338, 363 to 373, 376, 377, 385, 409, 417 to 420, 465 to
477-A, 489-A, 489-B, 489-C, 489-D and 511 of the Indian
Penal Code, or against whom an order of restriction has been
passed under the Habitual Offenders (Punjab) Act (V of
1918). In the latter case, however, the order of the magistrate
under Section 5 of Act XXXIII of 1920 shall first be obtained.

Note: - (I) Slips of persons convicted of offences under sections 368 to 373
IPC shall not be prepared for the Central Finger Print Bureau if
they are not traffickers in women and children.
(II) Similarly, slips of persons convicted of offences under sections
302,304 (if murder not for gain), 307, 311, 326, 327, 328, 376,
377 IPC shall not be prepared for the Central Finger Print
Bureau.
(III) Prosecuting officers shall follow the progress of cases under
section 465 to 477A IPC instituted in courts otherwise than on
police reports and report progress in their daily dairies.
(Circular letter No.6088-J(c)-58.27592, dated 11th September,
1958 from the Home Secy. to Govt. Punjab to all District
Magistrate and District Sessions Judges.)

In Punjab Magistrates are required to inform the District

Superintendent of Police of such complaints and also to send information in
the event of convictions under these section.

f. All persons convicted of offences under section 3 of the

Public Gambling Act, 1867 (Act No. III of 1867)
Note: -Slips of such persons shall not be prepared for
Central Finger Print Bureau.

g. In the case of all persons registered or restricted or convicted

under the Habitual Offenders (Control and Reform) Act, 1952

23
 (Punjab Act No. XII of 1952), the order of the District
Magistrate or any officer appointed by him under Section 9
of this Act shall first be obtained.
Note:- Slips of such convicts shall not be prepared for the Central
Finger Print Bureau.

h. All persons convicted of any offences under Chapter V of the

Indian Penal Code or of sabotage and subversive activities
against states.

i. All persons convicted of smuggling gold, currency and

valuable articles under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act
No. VII of 1947.
j. All persons convicted under section 5 of Act. LXXIV of 1950
for unlawful possession of telegraph wires.

k. All persons convicted under section 3 of Ordinance XIX of

1944 for unlawful possession of Railway Stores.

l. All professional criminals and persons of dangerous

character externed from any area under any State Act.

m. All foreigners externed under Foreigners Act No. XXXI of

1946.

n. All approvers in gang dacoity and criminal conspiracy case.

Note:- An approver can be finger printed under section 4 of

Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920 before he makes his statement in
court and is certified to have fulfilled conditions of his pardon.

o. All persons convicted under Explosive Substances Act. (Act

No. VI of 1908)

p. All persons convicted under the Official Secrets Act. (Act No.
XIX of 1923)

q. All persons convicted under Section 101, 126 and 128 of the
Indian Railway Act. (Act No. IX of 1890).

24
 r. All persons who are or are suspected of being professional
itinerant criminal and persons of notoriously criminal
reputation who habitually absent themselves from their
homes and are believed to travel to other states for the
purpose of committing crimes and who have been arrested
by the police and whose finger print have been taken even if
they are aquitted provided that in case of aquittal permission
for record for finger print is obtained from the court under
Section 5 of Act No. XXXIII of 1920.
s. Any other person whose finger prints are ordered to be
maintained by the Government of India from time to time
subject to the provisions of the Identification of Prisoners
Act. (Act No. XXXIII of 1920)
Note:- (I) Copies of FP slips received in the State Bureau from the
countries outside India, of the Indian nationals convicted
outside India and of the International criminals and
absconders, shall be supplied to the central Finger Print
Bureau, Government of India.
Under Act No. XXX III of 1920, no person before conviction
can be required to submit to being photographed except
under the order of the Magistrate Ist class. The
Superintendent of Police shall decide whether it is or is not
necessary to attach a photograph to the F.P. (Record) Slip of
any person.
(2) All convicted persons whose F.P. Slips are thus placed
permanently on record shall be classed as P.R. convicts,
provided that no inmate of the Borstal Institution shall be
classed as a P.R. convict unless

(a) He has two or more convictions under chapter XII

or XVII of the Indian penal Code, or
(b) He has been ordered to furnish security for good
behavior, or
(c) An order of restriction has been passed against
him under the restriction of habitual offenders
(Punjab) Act (V of 1918).

25
Note:- In the case of non-Asiatics the extra Finger Print Slip will be sent
to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Punjab, for transmission to
the Director, Intelligence Bureau . At least a month before the release
of a non–Asiatic his photograph, together with a report indicating
as far as
possible, his future movements and intentions, should be sent to the
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Punjab for transmission to the
Director, Intelligence Bureau.

(3) If a person thus classed as P.R. convict-

(a) is unidentified, or
(b) is a person convicted of offences under sections 232 to 235,
Indian Penal Code, or
(c) is, in the opinion of the Superintendent of Police a
professional and habitual utterer of counter feit coin
(Sections 240 to 243, Indian Penal Code), a dangerous or
habitual criminal (a thug, a robber by administration of
poisonous drugs, or a professional hereditary or specially
dangerous criminal convicted of heinous organized crime,
such as dacoity) he shall be classed as a P.R.T., or class I
convict, and his P.R. slip marked accordingly so that he may
be transferred for release fourteen days before the expiry of
his sentence to the jail or sub-jail in or nearest to the district
in which his home is situated, or in which he was convicted,
which in each case shall be named in the slip. This is with a
view to necessary measures being taken for the shadowing of
the convict on his release.

Section 26(1) :- On the receipt of a charge sheet at headquarters

relating to any of the offences enumerated in Section 25(1), the
Superintendent of Police shall consider whether in the event of conviction
or acquittal the accused should be classed as a Police Registered convict
(P.R.) or P.R.T. convict, or neither and shall issue orders accordingly. If
classed as P.R.T. the fact shall be brought to the notice of the Court with
a view to the convict being classified by the Magistrate as a class I
habitual and is necessary, further action being taken against him in
accordance with the previsions of section 356 Cr.P.C. (Appendix _____).
For further orders regarding the surveillance of P.R.T. convicts on their
release, see Rule _____. The Superintendent of Police shall furnish a
monthly return of all convicts classed as P.R.T. in Form No. ______ to the
Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

26
(2) At the conclusion of a trial in which a conviction has been obtained
the F.P. slips of P.R. convicts shall be prepared in the presence of-
i. The Magistrate deciding the case, or
ii. A Gazetted Police Officer, or
iii. The Superintendent of the Jail.

The Finger Print Slips of persons described in Section 25 (1) (h)

shall also be prepared in the presence of one of the above officers.

(3) The certificate in the Forms Nos. ______, and ______ shall be signed
by the officer in whose presence the slip is prepared.
(4) Ordinarily one F.P. (Record) slip and one P.R. (Jail) slip shall be
prepared in each case. But if the P.R. convict is
(a) a resident of another State, or
(b) has had previous conviction traced against him by the
Bureau of another State, or
(c) is reasonably believed to be a resident of another State,
though not absolutely identified as such, an extra copy or
copies of Form No. ____, shall be prepared for record in the
Bureau or Bureaux concerned. Care must be taken that
each copy is duly signed by the gazetted officer in whose
presence it is prepared. Superintendents of Police shall
exercise special care, in respect of category (c) above, to
ensure that only cases of genuine importance are selected for
duplicate record.

(5) When preparing P.R. (Jail) slips the “proficient” shall enter in
column 7 of the charge sheet slips referred to in Rule ______ the district
serial number of the P.R. (Jail) slip of any convict mentioned therein,
together with his descriptive roll as given in slip. The Legal Officer of
Police shall not allow charge sheet slips to be filed until he has satisfied
himself that necessary Finger Print (Record) slips and P.R. (Jail) slips
have been prepared, and District Serial Number quoted therein.

(6) The F.P. (Record) slips of boys admitted to the Reformatory School
at Delhi shall be taken by the school authorities and handed over to the
Superintendent of Police by the Superintendent of the Reformatory, to be
dealt with in accordance with the provisions of his section.

(7) On the re-conviction of a P.R. convict, fresh F.P. (Record) and P.R.
(Jail) slips shall be prepared as above laid down and shall be marked “re-

27
convicted”. Care shall be taken that all previous convictions are entered
in such slips.

(8) If a P.R. convict has not been identified the word “unidentified”
shall be written in red ink in column 18 of the F.P. Register and across
each copy of his slip, the jail copy will be marked P.R.T., in accordance
with the previsions of Section 25(3).

(9) The Legal Branch of Police DA/ADA shall certify with his signature
to the correctness of each conviction entered in a F.P. slip

(10) It shall be the duty of the Legal branch to ensure that all Finger
Print (Record) slips and P.R. (Jail) slips, which are required, vide Section
25(1) ibid, have been prepared on conclusion of trials. With a view to
achieve this object, he shall check, or cause to be checked daily the
convicted cases, reported in the Prosecuting Officers’ daily diaries [form
No. ______ of Police Rules] with the entries in the Finger Print Register.
Any omission detected shall be immediately looked into, and necessary
steps taken to have the essential slips prepared.

Note 1. In order to facilitate this check, it is suggested that the Head

Proficient may be required to quote the District Serial
Number of each F.P. (Record) slip prepared against the
convict’s name in the Prosecuting Officers’ diaries.
Note 2. The orders regarding the preparation of “F.P.” and “P.R.”
slips do not apply to the Railway Police, the District Police
authorities being responsible for the preparation of all F.P.
and P.R. slips, as distinguished from search slips.

Section 27 (1):- When the charge sheet is not sent to headquarters and
when cases are decided away from headquarters (including bad
livelihood prosecution and criminal cases decided on tour), the
prosecuting officer attached to a court shall be responsible that
necessary action is taken under Section 13 and, in the event of the
accused being convicted, that the F.P. (Record) and P.R. (Jail) slips, as
prescribed by section 25(1) are prepared in the presence of the
Magistrate in the Manner described in Section 26 (2). However, when a
prosecuting officer is not accompanying a Magistrate on tour, it shall be
incumbent on him to give timely information to the Station House Officer
concerned who shall be responsible for carrying out the above order.

(2) On the above-mentioned F.P. (Record) and P.R. (Jail) slips

being received at headquarter they shall be brought up before a Gazetted

28
Police Officer for orders in accordance with Section 26 (1), as to whether
the convict is to be classed as P.R., P.R.T., or neither. In the last case the
slip shall be destroyed.

(3) If classed as P.R. or P.R.T., further necessary action shall

be taken in accordance with the prevision of Section 31, 32 and 39.

TESTING OF F.P. (RECORD) SLIPS

Section 28 :- All F.P. (Record) slips taken in accordance with the

preceding rules shall be kept by the Superintendent of Police in open files
and arranged according to date of release, pending test by an expert or
proficient and until the time of appeal is over. The F.P. (Record) slips of
prisoners who are transferred to other jails before their slips are tested
shall be sent to the Superintendent of Police of the district to which
transferred and shall be placed by him in his pending test file. Such slips
shall, after test, be returned to the Superintendent of Police of the district
of conviction for transmission to the State F.P. Bureau “as well as to the
central Finger Print Bureau Government of India” and, if necessary to the
Bureaux of other states. In all cases the slips shall be forwarded through
the Punjab Bureau

Section 29 :- All F.P. (Record) slips shall be tested by an expert or a

proficient who has not taken part in the preparation of the slips
concerned. In districts where there is a Legal Officer of Police this officer
shall be utilised for the purpose. The test shall take place in the jail. In
marking the test the expert or proficient shall satisfy himself that the
prints have been properly taken and are those of the convict named on
the slip, that all particulars recorded on the slip are correct and properly
filled in, that all convictions have been correctly entered and attested by
the Prosecuting Inspection of Police and that the required number of
copies have been taken. Any mistakes should be brought to the notice of
the Superintendent of Police for necessary action. F.P. (Record) slips, on
which the prints are blurred or indistinct, should be rejected or replaced
by fresh slips prepared by the expert or proficient personally. After
having tested the slips the expert or proficient will note the word “tested”
with his initials and the date, (1) against the prisoner’s name in the jail
admission registers, and (2) on the history tickets. The expert or
proficient will also sign each slip that has been tested and his signature
to the slip will be held to be a certificate that the test has been made in
strict accordance with this rule.

Section 30 :- In the cases of persons convicted of offences mentioned in

Section 25 who are sentenced to fine, whipping, a short term of

29
imprisonment, or to find security, it is not possible to apply the above
rules owing to the rapidity with which such convicts pass out of custody.
The F.P. (Record) slips of such convicts will, therefore, be sent, without
test, to the Finger Print Bureau.

DISPOSAL OF F.P. (RECORD) SLIPS

Section 31 :- The F.P. (Record) slips, after being tested, will be made
over to the Superintendent of Police who will send them to the Finger
Print Bureau of his State, provided the time of appeal is over, or the
appeal, if any, has been decided. Newly taken F.P. (Record) Slips of
previously convicted persons should be sent to the Bureau for record,
even if the latest conviction has been set aside on appeal. The Legal
Officer shall ensure that all the F.P. (Record) Slips, which have been
completed and are ready for Despatch, are sent to the Bureau regularly
every week. He will be held personally responsible for any delay in the
Despatch of such slips.

Note:- Stout or Cloth-lined Covers shall be used for despatching

F.P. (Record) Slips which will not be folded but placed flat in
the covers.

DISPOSAL OF P.R. (JAIL) SLIPS

Section 32 :- Immediately after their preparation the P.R. (Jail) slips

shall be sent to the jail to be attached to the convict’s warrants of
commitment to jail and receipts shall be obtained on receipt Form No.41.
After the appropriate columns have been filled in by the jail authorities
such P.R. (Jail) slips shall serve as the notices of release from the jail. In
cases in which P.R. (Jail) slips have been prepared but the convicts are
not sent to the jail, these P.R. (Jail) slips shall be filed at once in the
office of the Superintendent of Police of the district of which the convict
was a resident.
Section 33 :- If a P.R. convict is admitted to the Borstal Institution, his
P.R. (Jail) slip shall be returned at once by the jail authorities to the
Superintendent of Police for record only and shall not be used as a
release notice, unless:
(a) Such convict has two or more convictions under chapter XII
or XVII of the Indian Penal Code, or

(b) Has been ordered to furnish security for good behaviour, or

30
 (c) An order of restriction has been passed against him under
the Restriction of Habitual Offenders (Punjab) Act (V of
1918).
Section 34(1):- P.R. (Jail) slips or “Release Notices” received from the
local jail or from the jails of other districts or in the case of P.R.T.
convicts from the Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch, C.I.D., in
accordance with the provisions of rules __________ Police Rules shall be
filed in the office of the Superintendent of Police of the district of which
the convict was a resident. On their receipt from jails and from the
Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch C.I.D., the return of the P.R.
slips should immediately be entered in the district F.P. register (Form
No.39). The P.R. slips of convicts residents of other districts in the
Punjab (India), Haryana Union, Jammu and Kashmir State, Himachal
Pradesh, and Delhi shall then be forwarded at once with a despatch
Cheque (Form No.41) to the Superintendent of Police of the district of
residence. The Legal Officer shall depute one of the ADA (Legal) working
under him to conduct a quarterly check of the Finger Print Register, and
shall send to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Crime Branch,
C.I.D., Punjab, a detailed report of cases, in which the Superintendent of
the Jail has failed to issue “Release Notices” in time, for reference to the
Inspector General of Prisons. These reports shall be prepared in Form
Nos. 34(1) (a) and 34(a) (b) Finger Print Bureau Manual.

(2) If a convict remains unidentified and his residence is unknown, or

if he is a resident of a State other than the Punjab (India), Haryana
Union, Jammu and Kashmir State, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi his P.R.
(Jail) Slip shall be kept in a separate file in the district where he is
convicted.

(3) P.R. (Jail) slips (release notices) filed in districts in accordance with
Rules _______ Police Rules, shall be kept in bundles of 1,000 each,
arranged in order of their serial numbers.

(4) P.R. (Jail) slips (releases notices) relating to a convict previously

classed as P.R. shall be filled with the original slips and shall bear the
same serial number (vide Section 39 (5).

(5) If the conviction is set aside on appeal, the P.R. (Jail) slip shall be
destroyed, unless the convict has been previously classed as P.R., in
which case it shall be filed with the original slip.
(6) On receipt of eliminated F.P. (Record) slips from the Finger Print
Bureau, Phillaur for transmission to the home Police Stations concerned
for record-vide section 19(9) Part III of the Finger Print Bureau Manual,

31
the corresponding P.R. (Jail) slips shall be removed from the district
record and destroyed locally. An entry to this effect shall invariably be
made in the remarks column of the Finger Print Register, in each
instance, under the dated initials of the Legal Officer of Police. An Expert
of the State Bureau will ensure by carrying out a test check at the time of
the annual inspection of Head Proficients’ Offices that compliance with
this rule is duly observed.

INSTRUCTION OF PROFICIENTS
Section 35 (1) :- From time to time subordinate police officers who have
a good knowledge of English shall be deputed by each Superintendent of
Police under the directions of the Range Deputy Inspector-General of
Police to the Bureau at Phillaur to be instructed in the art of taking and
deciphering finger prints, with a view to their qualifying as “Proficients”.
An officer so deputed shall be taught—
(a) the method of taking finger prints ;
(b) the method of comparing finger prints, that is to say, how to
recognise the different types and how to distinguish
differences in prints of the same types and;
(c) the orders regarding the identification of suspects and the
taking of F.P. (Record) and P.R. (Jail) slips which are referred
to in this chapter.
(2) At the end of three weeks he will be subjected to an exa
mination on passing which he will receive a “Proficiency Certificate”
qualifying him for the post of “Proficient” in a district.
(3) Immediately on return to his district after qualifying for the
post of a proficient each officer shall be employed in the finger print office
of the Superintendent of Police for at least a fortnight before being placed
on other duties.

POSTING OF PROFICIENTS

Section 36 (1) :- Two certificated Proficients, one of whom shall not be of

lower rank than Sub Inspector, shall be attached to the office of each
Superintendent of Police and for the purpose of discipline and
supervision such Proficients shall be under the immediate control of the
Legal Officer of Police, who must be himself a proficient in the system.
(2) Arrangements shall be made, when necessary, for a qualified
proficient to accompany any magistrate who is deciding criminal cases,
including bad-livelihood prosecutions, on tour. At Tahsils where criminal

32
cases are decided, the clerk or assistant clerk of the adjoining Police
Station shall be a “Proficient.” In cases where Honorary Magistrates hold
their courts away from headquarters, provisions shall be made in the
manner most convenient in each case, for the proper performance of the
duties of proficient in connection with cases decided by them. The
number of lower subordinates trained as proficients will be maintained at
a scale which will allow compliance with this rule.
Note :- Proficients who are called upon to prepare thumb
impressions in civil cases for transmission to Phillaur shall be paid by
court a fee of Re. 1 for each set of impressions taken – (Home
Secretary to Government Punjab’s letter No.2830 (H. Judl.), dated 27th
January, 1927, to the Inspector-General of Police, Punjab.)

(3) All clerks and assistant clerks at police stations shall be capable of
taking finger prints in the manner described in Section 2, but such
officers shall only be allowed to take prints on “Search Slips”, and then
only when no certificated proficient is available.

(4) On a change of proficient in the office of a Superintendent of Police

the relieving officer shall work with the officer to be relieved for at least a
fortnight before taking over formal charge.

(5) F.P. (Record) and P.R. (Jail) slips shall invariably be prepared by
certificated proficients.

DUTIES OF PROFICIENT
Section 37:- It shall be the duty of the proficient at headquarters to:-
(1) Prepare the F.P. (Record) and P.R. (Jail) slips of the
persons mentioned in Section 25 (1) in the manner
required by that Section and Section 26 (2) and to
keep the F.P. (Record) slips ready for test; to test F.P.
(Record) slips in the absence of an expert as shown in
Section 29;
(2) Prepare and despatch the search slips of accused or
other persons referred to in Section 13, 15 and 16
when these have not been despatched from Police
Stations;
(3) Keep in numerical order in bundles of 1,000 each the
P.R. (Jail) slips referred to in Section 34(3) ;
(4) Keep in a separate bundle the P.R. (Jail) slips of
unidentified convicts;

33
 (5) Dispose of F.P. (Record) and P.R. (Jail) slips in the
manner described in Sections 31 and 32;
(6) Prepare all statement and return that may be required
by the Finger Print Bureau in connection with the
finger print system of identification;
(7) Maintain and keep the registers prescribed in section
38;
(8) Keep in good order and fit for use all instruments for
taking finger prints.

REGISTERS
Section 38 (1) The following registers shall be maintained in connection
with the finger print branch of the office of the Superintendent of Police:-
a. The Search Slip Registers prescribed by Section 40.
b. The Finger Print Register prescribed by Section 39.
c. File Book of Notifications and Orders.
d. File Book of Death Statements.
e. Despatch Cheque.

(2) The Finger Print Register, and the File Book of Notifications and
Orders should be maintained permanently; whereas the search slip
Register, the File Book of Death Statements and despatch Cheques
should be preserved only for 10 years.
Note:- The correspondence files regarding the Finger Print System
should be destroyed in accordance with the instructions contained in
Rule 11.31 of the Punjab Police Rules.

Section 39 (1):- The preparation, despatch and receipt of all F.P.

(Record) and P.R. (Jail) slips shall be entered in the Finger Print Register,
Form No.39.
(2) The district serial number in column No. 1 of such register shall
commence from the last number of the old F.P. Register (the register just
finished) and shall continue up to 9999. Thereafter a fresh series will be
started commencing with “A 1,” “A2,” etc. up to A 9999, and so on.
(3) Immediately the accused who was ordered on conviction to be
classed as “P.R.” or “P.R.T.” is convicted, entries in column No. 1 to 7
shall be made under the supervision of the Prosecuting Deputy
Superintendent of Police and where there is no Prosecuting Deputy
Superintendent of Police, of the Prosecuting Inspector of Police, who shall

34
sign his name in columns 8. The entries in column No. 9 to 18 shall be
made by the head proficient.

(4) When a P.R. (Jail) slip (release notice) is received for district record
from another district, columns No. 1 to 6 inclusive and column No. 14
shall be filled in, the other columns remaining blank. The district serial
number given to such slip in column No. 1 shall be the serial number of
the last preceding number with the distinguishing letter “a” or “b”, as the
case may be, added. This number shall be entered on the slip itself, the
serial number given by the district which prepared the slip being struck
out and entered instead in column No. 14 of the register. Should it be
necessary hereafter to refer to the Bureau regarding any such slip
without sending the slip itself, this latter number, with the name of the
district which prepared the slip, should be quoted.

(5) When under the provisions of Section 26(7) a new F.P. (Record) slip
is prepared or a new P.R. (Jail) slip (release notice) is received for district
record of a re-convicted, instead of giving a new serial number the
number of the pervious F.P. (Record ) slip , or P.R. Jail slip(release notice
), if any , shall be given in column No.1 of the register and on the slip
itself . If , however , such previous number is un-known a new serial
number shall be given.
(6) In case in which F.P.(record ) and P.R.(Jail) slip are prepared away
from headquarters and are received under Section 27, necessary entries
in all the columns of this register shall be filled in by the proficient , a
note being made in the remarks column showing where and by whom the
slip was prepared.
Section 40(1) :- Search Slip dispatched to the Bureau under the
prevision of Sections 13,15 and 16 shall be entered in the Search Slip
Register , Form No. 40
(2) Search Slips of recruits and dead bodies dispatched to the Bureau
shall be entered in a separate Search Slip Register, Form No. 40, which
shall be maintained in two parts , one for recruits and the other for dead
bodies, each part bearing its own annual serial number.
(3) When a Search Slip is dispatched from a police station direct
under Section 13, the particulars required by columns No. 1 to 11 of the
form shall be entered in the register by the proficient on receipt of the
charge sheet referred to in section 13, and the remaining columns shall
be filled in on receipt of the Search Slip from the Bureau. In such cases
column No. 12 of the register will remain blank.

35
Section 41(1) :- In transmitting P.R.(Jail) slips to Superintendents of
Jail, for action, or in transmitting F.P.(Record) slips to the Finger Print
Bureau for record , the slip shall be accompanied by a despatch Cheque
in duplicate (Form No. 41). The middle foil of this shall be returned as an
acknowledgement to the officer from whom it was received, and this
officer shall attach it to the counterfoil in the register. The outer foil shall
be retained by the receiving officer and filed in yearly bundles according
to the consecutive numbers of the Cheques.

Note:- In transmitting F.P.(record) Slips meant for record in the Central

Finger Print Bureau Government of India , the slips shall be
accompanied by the despatch Cheque (From No. 41-A F.P.B.M) in
triplicate. Out of the two foils received duly accepted , by the Central
Finger Print Bureau, Government of India, one foil shall be kept by the
state Finger Print Bureau and the other sent to the district concerned
for being attached to the counter foil thereof .

(2) F.P. (Record) Slips showing convictions traced from the Punjab
Bureau shall be entered in the Cheque foils with red ink.
(3) All duplicate copies of F.P. (Record) slips (if any) for other Bureaux
shall be dispatched tacked together.
(4) Four registers should be started. The first for F.P. (Record) slips
the second for P.R (Jail) slips the third for miscellaneous slips sent from
districts to district and the fourth for the Central Finger Print Bureau,
Govt. of India, in accordance with the rules. Each register should be
given a separate annual serial number before issue for use. In sending
dispatched Cheques from the first and second registers to the Bureau or
jail, care should be taken that the numbers of the Cheques are
continuous and strictly in their order, as this is the only check provided.
Cheques with faulty numbers will not be accepted. In Cheques for the
Bureau, only F.P. Slips for record are to be entered. These must not be
confused with P.R.(Jail) slips sent subsequently for correction, etc. Such
P.R. Slips should be sent under cover of a letter explaining the purpose
for which they are sent . The jail Cheque is meant for those jail slips only
which are sent to the jail to be attached to the warrant of commitment.
Note:- In transmitting F.P Record slips meant for record in the Central
Finger Print Bureau,
Govt. of India, the slip shall be accompanied by a despatch
Cheque (From No. 41-A FPBM) in triplicate. Out of the two foils
received duly accepted by the Central Finger Print Bureau,

36
 Govt. of India, one foil shall be kept by the State Finger Print Bureau
and the other sent to the Distt. Concerned for being attached to the
counter foil thereof.

DEATHS OF P.R. CONVICTS

Section 42 (1):- On or about the first day of January, April, July and
October in each year the Superintendent of Police shall forward to the
Bureau a statement in Form No. 42, showing the deaths among persons
whose finger print slips are on record in his office. The P.R. Slips of such
deceased persons shall be attached to the statement. A file book
containing the office copies of such statement shall be maintained in the
office of the Superintendent of Police.

(2) If the person whose death is reported is one whose F.P. (Record)
Slip has been supplied to the Bureau of another state, a similar
statement in form No. 42 shall be sent to the Bureau concerned.

INSPECTION OF F.P. OFFICES

Section 43(1):- An expert from the Finger Print Bureau, Phillaur, will be
deputed once a year to inspect the Finger Print branch of the office of
every Superintendent of Police. The expert shall go thoroughly through
all the registers and files and submit the result in Form No. 43 to the
Superintendent of Police who, on receiving the report, shall satisfy
himself as to its general correctness and shall pass such orders as are
necessary. The report will then be submitted by him to the
Superintendent of Police / Dy. Supdt. of Police-cum-Director, Finger
Print Bureau for information and submission to the Deputy Inspector
General of Police.
(2) Reports concerning districts in the Punjab shall after perusal by
the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Criminal Investigation
Department, Punjab be forwarded to the Deputy Inspector–General of
Police of the range concerned and the reports of the other States
affiliated to the Bureau to the head of Police Department of those States,
for information and such action as they consider necessary. The report
will thereafter be returned to the Bureau to be filed.
(3) Experts will also be deputed from time to time to test the F.P.
Slips (vide Section 29). These experts will submit a report of their work
on return to headquarters.

37
 Miscellaneous
Section 44:- If a F.P. (Record) slip is returned from the Bureau in
accordance with Section 6 of Part III as unfit for record, the
Superintendent of Police shall arrange to have the slip duly completed or
corrected, or to have a fresh slip prepared, at the same time taking
suitable notice of any apparent neglect on the part of the “Proficient”. The
return of a slip as defective and its ultimate disposal shall be entered in
the “Remarks” column of the F.P. Register (From No. 39 F.P.B.M) by the
Legal Officer of Police.

Section 45(1):- The results of trials in all cases in which the identity of
the accused was traced through the Bureau shall be reported to the
Bureau without any unnecessary delay.
(2) Such result shall be commented in case where the accused is
made P.R., by means of the F.P.(Record) slips and in other cases (where
the accused is not made P.R. or is not convicted )by means of the Search
Slips which were returned by the Bureau as traced .

(3) When communicated by means of Search Slip, the latter shall be

returned by the Bureau for record in the office of the Superintendent of
Police in accordance with Section 21.

(4) The Legal Officer of Police Incharge of “Proficients” Office shall

carry out a check of column 20, 21 and 22 of the District Search Slip
Register (Form No. 40 F.P.B.M) at the end of each month, or shall cause
such a check being exercised by one of his subordinate prosecuting
officers in order to ensure compliance with the orders contained in the
preceding sub-sections. The checking officer shall record the following
certificate on the Search Slip Register:-

Section 46(1):- If a person whose finger prints are on record in any of

the State Bureaux:-
(a) Is declared a proclaimed offender, or
(b) Escapes from a jail or from police custody, or
(c) Absconds after committing some offence,

intimation of the fact shall be forthwith sent to the Bureau concerned.

When communicating such information to the State Bureau care shall be
taken to quote the name, parentage and residence of the convict, the
number of the first information report, with its date, the name of the
Police Station, and whether proceedings have been or are being taken
under Section 512 Cr. P.C. If the convict’s finger prints are on district

38
record, or the F.P. (Record) Slip is awaiting test, the F.P. (Record) Slip
should be attached to the report. If the F.P. (Record) slip is not traceable
in the district record, and it is known that the convict is a P.R. convict,
the district serial number of the F.P. (Record) slip with the name of the
district in which it was prepared shall be quoted. In case a person is not
a previous convict, a search shall be made in his home Police Station
records (referred to in Section 21of this part) and the 10 digit
impressions if found to EXIST therein shall be sent to the Finger Print
Bureau, for record as a temporary measure. In a similar manner,
assistance can be taken in connection with the apprehension of absentee
bad characters.
(2) On such persons being arrested the fact shall be promptly
communicated to the Bureau concerned.

Section 47 :- All reports and references made to the Finger Print Bureau
by Superintendent of Police shall be in English.

LIST OF F.P. BUREAUX

Section 48 :- The following is the list of F.P. Bureaux in the Indian
Union,

1. Punjab and U.T. Chd. Phillaur

2. Himachal Pradesh Bharari, Shimla
3. Jammu & Kashmir Crime Wing,
Jammu
4. Utter Pradesh Lucknow
5. Bihar Patna
6. Orissa Bubneshwar
7. West Bengal Calcutta
8. Assam Gauhati
9. Madhya Pradesh Bhopal
10. Tamil Nadu (Madras) Vellore Fort
11. Kerala Trivandrum
10. Bombay City, Maharashtra Bombay City
11. Maharashtra Pune
12. Gujrat Ahmedabad
13. Maharashtra Aurangabad
14. Mahrashtra Nagpur
15. Andhra Pardesh Hyderabad
16. Rajasthan Jaipur
17. Karnataka Bangalore

39
 18. Central Finger Print Bureau, New Delhi
Govt. of India
21. Haryana Madhuban
22. Meghalya Shillong
23. Delhi Delhi
24. Delhi National Crime Record Bureau NCRB
CFPB, Delhi

Note:- The registered abbreviated telegraphic address of all officers

Incharge of Bureaux is Finger Print. The name of the telegraph office of
destination will prevent any risk of mis-delivery.
Address of the Finger Print Bureaux in India

Director , F.P.B.Nehru Nagar, Jaipur, (Rajasthan) Pin:302016

Director , F.P.B.Maha Nagar, FSL Complex, CID,Lukhnow,(U.P)
Director , Gr.II F.P.B. CID,(Crime), Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Director , F.P.B. CID,(Crime), Pune, Maharashtra
Director , Gr.F.P.B. CID,Nagpur, Maharashtra
Director , Gr.F.P.B. CID, Annex-III, ThirdFloor, Police Commissioner,
Office compund , Mumbai
Director , F.P.B. State Crime Record Bureau, Jahangirabad, Bhopal, MP
Director , F.P.B. State Crime Record Bureau, Hyderabad
Director , F.P.B. State Crime Record Bureau, A.P.R.O., Annex,
Ulubari,Guwahati,Assam.
Director , F.P.B. State Crime Record Bureau, Police Complex, Maduban,
Karnal (Haryana).
Director , F.P.B. Mylapore, Chennai, Tamilnadu
Director , C.F.P.B. , N.C.R.B., GOI (MHA), East Block-7, R.K. Puram,
New Delhi
Director , F.P.B. , CID, HQRS Shillong, Meghalya
Director , .F.P.B. , Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Director , F.P.B. State Crime Record Bureau, Saltlake City, Calcutta
Director , F.P.B. State Crime Record Bureau, Police Complex , Malvia
Nagar, New Delhi-17
Director , F.P.B. State Crime Record Bureau, Rasulgarh, Bhubneswer,
Orrisa.
Director , F.P.B. State Crime Record Bureau, Thiruvanathapuram,
Kerala.
Director , F.P.B. State Crime Record Bureau, Supdt. of Police Banglore,
Karnataka.
Director , F.P.B. Patna, Bihar.
Director , C.F.P.B./30, Gora Chand Road, Calcutta.
Director , F.P.B. Complax at Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, Pb.

40
Section 49 :- The Superintendent of Police shall submit to the Finger
Print Bureau, by the 15th January of each year, an annual statement in
Form No. 49, showing the number of search slips and Finger Print
(Record) Slips prepared in his district during the past two years.

Section 50 (1):- The slips of the following persons should ordinarily be

removed five years after the expiry of the latest sentence:—
(a) Slips of identified persons not being wanderers and not
having more than two convictions with the heaviest sentence
not exceeding six months.
(b) Slips of identified person when the conviction is under
Section 109 or 110, Cr. P.C. only, and the sentence is not
more than one year.
(2) The slips of all persons, not dealt with under the previous
paragraph and who are not professional prisoners, noteforgers, coiners,
or arm smugglers should ordinarily be removed 10 years after the expiry
of the last sentence.

(3) The slips of all other persons shall be removed on their attaining
the age of 70 years.

(4) F.P. Slips received for record shall be sorted and sealed with the
seal of the year of their removal before they are put on record.

(5) The F.P. Slips already on record will be sealed with the year of their
removal when the lists of the slips for elimination are prepared.

(6) Bureau records will be revised yearly and the lists of the names of
persons with particulars given in the form whose slips come under
paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be prepared in form No. 19(6) and sent to the
Superintendent of Police of the district for report whether the slip can
safely be destroyed or not.

(7) The slips, the destruction of which is recommended, shall be

removed from record immediately after the receipt of reply, and in the
case of slips to be retained they shall be sealed afresh, the year of
removal being extended to 10 or l5 years as the case may be, or in other
words to 5 years from the receipt of reply.

(8) The slips of persons falling under paragraph 3 shall be removed

from record on their attaining the age limit without making any reference
to the districts of residence.

41
 (9) All eliminated F.P. (Record) Slips, and their copies shall be
returned to Superintendents of Police of the home district of the
individuals concerned for being placed on record in the home police
stations of the individuals, as indicated in Section 21, part I of the F.P.B.
Manual, after necessary action has been taken in the Head Proficient's
Office of a district as laid down in Sub-section 6 to Section 34, Part-I.
Note—To count the years one calendar year is intended in the above
rules.

Section 51:- If it is known that the duplicate copies of the slips of which
the removal is recommended are also on record in any other Bureaux,
intimation of the removal of such slips will be sent to the Bureaux
concerned.
Section 52:- The registers mentioned in Section 4 Chapter III and other
miscellaneous records shall be destroyed as shown below :-

Sr. Name of Register Period after

No. which destroyed
1 Register of Search Slips received (Form 4A) 2 years
2 Register of Traced Cases (Form 4B) 20 years
3 Register of F.P. Slips received for record (Form 4C) Permanent
4 File book of information received regarding death of 5 years
persons whose slips are on record (prescribed by
section 17 of this part)
5 Index Register of F.P.Slips received from other States Permanent
(prescribed by Section 18 of this part)
6 Order Book Permanent
7 Inspector' Daily Dairy 2 years
8 Register of Requirements for F.P.Slips (Form No. 4 D) 2 years
9 Register of Proficient and Experts (Form No. 4E) Permanent
10 Counterfoils of Traced and Untraced Search Slips 2 years
11 F.P.(Record) Slips removed from record as duplicates 2 years
12 F.P. Slips of persons acquitted on appeal etc. 2 years
13 Eliminated F.P. (Record) slips of person resident of Immediately
other States
14 Dispatch Cheques 20 years
15 Statement of Reformed Ex-convicts 10 years

42
 Form No. F.P.B.M

SEARCH SLIP PUNJAB POLICE Form No.13 F.P.B.M.

To To
THE LEGAL OFFICER OF …………………
The Finger Print Bureau Particulars of the persons, if traced.
Name_________________ son of __________________
Search slip of unidentified person or persons accused of
Caste___________ Village________________ Police

some specific offence ………………….. First Information Report Station___________ District ___________
No.…………...  Date…….…………  Section………….............
Convictions
 Police Station……………...........  District……………
Sr.No. District Date Section Sentence Jail Place
 Name given by accused …………………………………..  Caste and admission of
……………..  Son . of ……….…………… court No. offence
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
 Village…….……………………….  Police Station
1
……………….………………  District 2
…………………………..  Date of Dispatch ……………..………… 3
4
 Date of taking prints …………………  if remand taken, date of 5
expiry ……………………………………..  Name of the 6
officer taking the prints…………………………….….. 7
8
……………….. Remarks  9
10
If the man’s slip is already on record, its district serial No. shall
be given. Prints taken on the …………………… Police
Station…………………… in connection with First Information Report
Note: Search slips sent to other than the Punjab Bureau must No. ……… Dated ……………. Under section………………….
invariably be written in English.
Reference should now be made to the district where convicted,
to prove identity and previous convictions and the result reported as

43
soon as the case is disposed of. If witnesses to prove identity are …………………….. {Prints taken by ……………………….…
not forthcoming, the services of an expert should be applied for, {son of ………………………………….……………………….………...
and the previous conviction proved under Sections 45 and 73, {Name of accused…………………………….
Indian Evidence Act 1872, as amended by Act V of 1899. {District……………………… { Police Station
Director, ………………{Village…………….{Caste ……………..……
State Finger Print Bureau,
Dated ………….20 Phillaur TO BE FILLED UP IN THE BUREAU
45:
Right Right Right Right Right Digit Primary Detail of Secondary
Thumb Index Middle Ring Little Classification primary classification
search
1 R.T.
2 R.I
3 R.M
4 R.R
Left Left Left Left Ring Left 5 R.L
Thumb Index Middle Little 6 L.T
7 L.I
8 L.M.
9 L.R.
10 L.L
Pigeon-hole Nos.
Plain prints of the four Plain prints of the four
finger of left hand taken finger of Right hand taken Name under Which traced ………………………………………
Simultaneously simultaneously. Alias…………………………………………………………….
Son of ……………………………………………………………
Pigeon hole No. …………………………………………………
Date of the receipt of the slip…………………………………….
Date of reply…………………………………………………….
Remarks if any……………………………………………………
Classified by………………………………………………………

44
Tested by………………………………………………………….
Searched by……………………………………..………………..
Date ……………………………………..………………………..

45
 Form No. 26 (1)

Police Department _________________District

(Not to be submitted if form is blank)

RETURNS OF CONVICTS CLASSED AS P.R.T. DURING THE MONTH OF __________20

(Total number of persons reconvicted during the current year and Total number of convicts classes as P.R.T. during the
Up to present date, of offences mentioned in Section 25 (1) current year and up to present dates.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Sr. 1.Name,Caste Resident of : Previous conviction Present Order of Jail from Remarks by Orders of DIG
N o. and percentage Village, Police conviction courts which to Superintendent of Police, CID.
Station and Date Offence Place or showing regarding be of Police of
district district of Offence, classification, released convicting
conviction Sentence, section 565 district
Date and CrPC.
court

(if not sufficient more forms can be added)

Dated_________________ Superintendent of Police

46
 Form No. 26(2) A
F.P.Slip

Bureau Serial No.___________ District Serial No.________

1. Full name with alias _________________________________________________________

2. Father’s or husband’s name with alias
___________________________________________
3. Caste ______________________Religion ________________________________________
4. Village ________________________________Police Station _________________________
5. District State ___________________________________
6. Apparent age on_________Between ______________and ________________Years

7. Prisoner’s signature or mark, if unable to write ______________________________

Conviction

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
No. Name District Date Section Sentence Jail Place of
under and Admission offence
Which court No.
convicted

Signature of the prosecuting Inspector of Police in verification of the

fact that the convictions noted in the F.P. Slip have been verified from Police, Jail
or Judicial record and that they are correct in all their details.

District______________________ Legal Officer of Police

Date________________________

47
 F.P.Slip
Classification No.
Right Hand
Right Thumb Right Index Right Middle Right Ring Right Little

Fold Fold
Left Hand
Left Thumb Left Index Left Middle Left Ring Left Little

Fold Fold

Left Hand Right Hand

Plain prints of the four fingers taken Plain prints of the four fingers taken
simultaneously simultaneously

Reference to first information report date of search slip submitted. if traced, the
names of the Bureaux which traced with date of trace.
Signature of gazetted officer or the deciding magistrate in verification of the fact
that the impressions above were taken before him and that they are impression of the
convict named on the reverse.

Signature________________________________
Rank of Officer __________________________

Impression taken by Rank District

Place Date
Tested by Rank District
Place Date
Classified at Bureau by Rank Date
Tested at Bureau by Rank Date
NCA at Bureau By Rank Date
Filed at Bureau by Rank Date

48
 Form No. 26(2) B
P.R.SLIP (RELEASED NOTICE)

District Serial No.________

N.B. The letters P.R. or P.R.T. to be entered in red ink against the name in the Jail
admission Register and Jail history Ticket.

1. Full name with alias ____________________________________________________

2. Caste ___________________________ Religion_____________________________
3. Father’s Name _____________________________Village_____________________
4. Police Station ____________________________District_______________________
5. Crime, sentence, Date Court __________________________________________
by which convicted and FIR No.__________________________________________
6. How classed, i.e. P.R. or P.R.T. (section 25)
if P.R.T. add the name of the jail where the
convict should be released on expiry of the sentence. _________________________

7. Date of issue of jail P.R. Slip _________________________________________

(Signature of superintendent of Police in verification of the above facts.

Superintendent of Police

(to be filled in by Jail Department before returning this slip as a release notice prior to
release of prisoner (vide paragraph 476-A, Jail Manual)

Prisoner's No. in Prison's Register _________________________________________

Here give full particular of the circumstances and date of the prisoner's
leaving jail. If released on bail pending appeal, this should be specially noted, if

Former residence as stated in warrant-- Proposed residence----

Village ________________________ Village _______________________
Police Station___________________ Police Station __________________
District ________________________ District _______________________

Remission, if any and conditions _____________________________________________

Conduct of prisoner during imprisonment_______________________________________
Name of identifying officers or warders________________________________________

________________PRISON:

The ____________ 20 . Superintendent of Jail

49
 Classification No.
Right Hand
Right Thumb Right Index Right Middle Right Ring Right Little

Fold Fold
Left Hand
Left Thumb Left Index Left Middle Left Ring Left Little

Fold Fold

Left Hand Right Hand

Plain prints of the four fingers taken Plain prints of the four fingers taken
simultaneously simultaneously

Impressions taken by Rank District

Place Date 20

Signature of gazetted officer or the deciding magistrate in verification of the

fact that the impressions above were taken before him and that they are
impression of the convict named on the reverse.
Peculiarities of speech, gait appearance, etc., also a few conspicuous marks and
scars to be omitted in case of female convicts)

Signature_______________________
Rank of Officer __________________
Age on between and years
Conviction
No Place Date Section Term No. Place Date Section Term
1 6
2 7
3 8
4 9
5 10

Note: This slip when sent to jail should be sent in the envelop provided for the
purpose.

50
 Form No. 34(1) (a) F.P.B.M
Police Department District_______________________

STATEMENT SHOWING DETAILS OF P.R.(JAIL) SLIPS (RELEASE NOTICE) RECEIVED LATE FROM THE
JAIL DEPARTMENT DURING THE QUARTER ENDING _______________20 __

Sr. District Name of convict Name of Date of Date on which Date on which Class of Remarks
No. Serial with parentage jail issue of release notice release notice convict i.e.
No. returning P.R. slip was due from was received P.R. or P.R.T.
the slip to jail jail
and jail
admission
number

No.___________________
Superintendent of Police
Dated, the ______________

51
 Police Department District___________________

Form No. 34(1) (b) F.P.B.M

QUARTER ENDING _______________20 __

STATEMENT SHOWING DETAILS OF P.R.(JAIL) SLIPS (RELEASE NOTICE) OVERDUE FROM THE JAIL
DEPARTMENT

Sr. District Name of Jail to Date Date Class Residence Last conviction
No. Serial convict which of on of
No. with sent and issue which convict
parentage jail to release i.e. Village Police District Date Section Sentence
Station

Remarks
admission jail notice P.R. or
number of is due P.R.T.
P.R. from
slip the jail

No.___________________
Superintendent of Police
Dated, the ______________

52
 FORM NO. 39
REGISER SHOWING DISPOSAL OF P.R. SLIPS PREPARED OR RECEIVED IN
THE DISTRICT OF ______________
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
TO BE FILLED IN UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE PROSECUTING DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE OR THE PROSECUTING INSPECTOR OF POLICE
District Name with Father’s Name Residence Number of first information Signature of prosecuting Date on which F.P.
Sr. No. alias with caste report, name of police deputy superintendent of and P.R. slips were
station and section of law police or prosecuting prepared
with particulars of inspector of police
conviction
Village Police District
station

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
TO BE FILLED IN BY PROFICIENT
Date of Number of duplicate Date of If classed P.R.T. enter Remarks
dispatch slip submitted. If for dispatch P.R. Slips (Release Notice) in this column the
of F.P. the bureau of the to jail letter T.
Slip home of any other
state, give name of Date on Date of receipt from Date of Name of district
the state which jail or other district. dispatch to to which
release If from other other district dispatched
notice is due district, give name
from the jail of district with
serial no.

 The serial No. all will commence from the last number in old register (the register just finished) and will continue up to 9999
 Thereafter a fresh series should be started commencing with A1., A2, etc., up to A9999, and soon.
Note; 1. When F.P. and P.R. Slips are prepared of an ex-convict who has not been recently convicted the word “ex-convict” shall be entered inn
the column for remarks.
2. The fact of F.P. Slip having been returned as defective shall be noted in the column of remarks by the Prosecuting Deputy
superintendent of Police or the Prosecuting Inspector of Police.

53
 FORM NO. 40
REGISER OF SEARCH SLIPS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
TO BE FILLED IN WHEN SEARCH SLIP IS RECEIVED FOR THE FIRST TIME
Annual Date of Name and address of accused as given by him Reference to case, giving offence, FIR , Signature
serial dispatch. date and Police station of
No. If to other Name Father’s Village Police District FIR Date Police Section dispatcher
than with Name Station No. Station
Phillaur alias with
Bureau, caste
give name

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
TO BE FILLED IN “TRACED” CASES ONLY
TO BE FILLED IN WHEN SEARCH SLIP IS RECEIVED FROM THE BUREAU WHEN THE SEARCH SLIP IS FINALLY SENT
. TO THE BUREAU, INFORMATING RESULT OF
TRIAL
UNDER WHAT NAME, ETC, TRACED Number of Result of If reported Date of Remarks
Date of Name Father’s Village Police District previous trial and by search return of (also
receipt with alias name with Station conviction sentence slip, give Search comment
caste traced and date and Slip to on the
date of trace if by District adequacy
finger Police or
print slip, Officer otherwise
give its of the
District sentence)
Serial No.

54
 FORM NO. 41
Note:-F.P. Slips showing convictions
traced form the Punjab Bureau
should be entered in red ink.
(The cheques should be given a
consecutive yearly number)
FORM NO. 41
(to be returned to the
Superintendent of Police)
Note:-F.P. Slips showing convictions
traced form the Punjab Bureau
should be entered in red ink.
The cheques should be given a
consecutive yearly number)
FORM NO. 41
(to be filled in by the receiving officer)
Note:-F.P. Slips showing convictions
traced form the Punjab Bureau should
be entered in red ink.
(The cheques should be given a
consecutive yearly number)

_______________District _______________District _______________District

Cheque No.____________ Dated Cheque No.________ Dated Cheque No._________

______________ ______________ Dated_____________

To To To
___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________

Forwarded F.P./P.R. slips of Forwarded F.P./P.R. slips of the

Forwarded F.P./P.R. slips of
the prisoners named below for prisoners named below for
the prisoners named below for
record/action:- record/action:-
record/action:-
Superintendent of Police
Superintendent of Police Superintendent of Police
District Name and parentage
District Name and parentage District Name and parentage Serial
Serial Serial No.
No. No.

Received Officer in charge

Received Officer in
charge

55
 FORM NO. 42

STATEMENT OF DEATHS FOR QUARTER OF 20 REGARDING PRISONERS WHOSE FINGER PRINTS

ARE ON RECORD IN THE FINGER PRINT BUREAU

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Name of Father’s RESIDENCE LAST CONVICTION DEATH Remarks Classification
convict name including arrangement
or ex- Village Police Place Date Section Sentence Place Date By reference number (to
convict Station whom to death be filled in at
with reported register the Bureau
district
serial
No. of
his
P.R.Slip

Dated__________
Superintendent of Police
The____________

56
 Year

20
20
20
20

1
1
Year

ence
Differ
Number of persons convicted of offences
detailed in section 25(1) (a) to (g)

2
offences
2

prisoners

detailed in
Number of

Section 25.
arrested for
Number of persons included in column 2 for

3
whom FP Slips were prepared

were
2 for
whom
3

search

FP slips
persons
included

prepared
for whom
column 2
slips were
in column

Number of
5
Number of

dispatched

included in
persons not
%age of column 3
4

Total of FP Slips prepared (column 3,4, and 5)

6
on column 2

Percentage of column 3 on column 3

57
5
FORM NO. 49

Number of PR convicts classed as PRT 8

Number of FP slips sent to the Central Finger

Bureau
persons

9
6

Print Bureau
Number Number of

the Punjab
included in
SEARCH SLIPS, ANNUAL STATEMENT

to other than
of traces search slips of

Number of FP slips sent to other than Punjab

column 3, sent

FP RECORD SLIPS, ANNUAL STATEMENT

10

Bureau
as
slips

Number of FP slips prepared in Moffassil

7

11
Number

defective
returned
of search

Number of FP slips returned for correction

12
8

bears to
column 3
column 7

Percentage column 11 bears to column 6

Percentage

13
 FORM NO.43
Annual Inspection Report on the proficient’s officer
for the year 20_______

District___________ Dated____________

1. Are the instructions contained in

Section 2 to 10 fully understood and
acted up to by all proficients?
2. Are the orders contained in Section 25
and 26 regarding the procedure to be
followed in connection with the
classification of convicts as “PR or
PRT” understood and complied with?
Note: The answer to question No. 2 to
be filled in by Superintendent of Police
himself after hearing Inspecting
Officer’s report.
3. Are the orders contained in Section 11
to 16 regarding the submission of
Search Slips fully understood and
complied with?
4. Has the procedure required by Section
18, regarding the adjournment of cases
when the Search Slip has not been
received back in time for the trial, been
followed?
5. Is the procedure required by Sections
22 to 24 in order to prove the identity
of an accused by his Fingerprints duly
observed?
6. (a) Is the procedure required by
Section 26 regarding the preparation of
F.P. and PR slips at headquarters fully
understood and observed?
(b) Where and in whose presence are
the majority of such slips prepared/
(c) Have any such slips been prepared
by other than Proficient's? Section
36(5).
7. Are the orders regarding the
preparation of FP and PR slips away
from headquarters duly observed?
[Section 27.]
8. Are the orders regarding the testing of
FP (record) slips duly observed?
(Section 28 and 29).
9. Are the orders regarding the disposal
of FP and PR slips duly observed?
(Section 31 and 32).

10. (a) Are the PR (Jail) Slip or Release

Notices referred to in Section 32 to 34
duly received and disposed of?

58
 (b) Check the receipt of PR (Jail) slips
from the jail department during the
year under report from the preceding
year and compare these with column
13 of the FP register and state whether
they were received in time. Is the
prescribed quarterly check duly
exercised?
11. What is the name of the Prosecuting
Inspectors are there in the districts?
12. How many Proficient's are there in the
district?
13. Give the number and distribution of
Proficient's employed on this duly
through out the district and note
whether they are of proper rank; if not
give particulars (section 36).
14. Are the arrangements in the Muffassil
for taking search slips complete?
REGISTERS
15. The Fingerprint Register:
(a).Is this maintained in the proper form
and are the orders contained in section
39 fully understood and observed? If
not, give reason.
(b) Give the total number of slips prepared
last year. How man ere sent for record,
and how many destroyed on the
convict’s release on appeal.
(c) Are the notes always made in the
remarks column in accordance with
sub-section 6 of section 39 and section
44?

16. DISPATCH CHEQUES:

(a) Are there separate Cheque books kept
for the FP Bureau, Jail and other
district/
(b) Is each Cheque book serially
numbered as required by the note on
the Cheque and maintained in
accordance with Section 41?
(c) Are they complete according to last
serial Number.
17. The Search slip register :
Are they maintained inn accordance
with the orders contained in section 40?
18. Are the results of trials duly
communicated to the Bureau and are
the prescribed monthly check
exercised?
19. Is the procedure regarding proclaimed
offenders an Absconders, etc., detailed
in section 46 strictly followed.

59
20. Is the file book of notifications and
orders duly kept u? (Section 38).
21. Have the quarterly returns of eats
prescribed by section 42 been duly
submitted? Mention the number of
such deaths reported during the past
two years.
22. Is the extract of the release notice as
required by rule 23.37 supplied to the
Assistant Inspector General,
Government Railway Police in cases
committed on t he Railway?
23. Note on any other points not included
in above which are deserving of
attention, giving a separate serial
number to each (Blank sheets of
foolscap paper can be attached as
required.)
A blank half sheet of foolscap paper
should also be attached to this report
on which remarks of the officers
through whom the report is forwarded
would be recorded in the following
order:
i. Endorsement of inspecting officer
to the Superintendent of Police.
ii. Remarks of the Superintendent of
police.
iii. Remarks of the Director in charge
of Finger Print Bureau.
iv. Remarks of the Deputy Inspector
General of Police, Crime, Pb.,
Chandigarh.
v. Remarks of the Inspector General
of Police, Crime, Pb., Chandigarh.
vi. Remarks of Deputy Inspector
General of Police of Range.

60
 FORM NO. 4A
REGISTER OF FINGER PRINT SEARCH SLIPS RECEIVED
1 2 3 4 5 6
Bureau Name of District and Name and Father’s Date of Date on which Remarks
Annual Police Station from Name of the Accused receipt returned to
Serial No. which received District police
officer

FORM No. 4B
REGISTER OF ERSONS TRACED BY MEANS OF FINGER PRINT SEARCH SLLIPS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Annual District Name Father’s Resident given Section Detail of previous Result District Remarks
serial from given by name and b accused (in of Law conviction traced of trial Serial
No. in which accused caste blue ink) under No. pf FP
this the in blue given by residence which Slips (if
register referenc ink) Name accused under which sent any)
and date e was under (in blue traced 9in red up prepared
of trace received which ink) ink) after
of traced (in Father’s result of
search red ink) name trial
slip under
District

Section
Station
Village

which
Police

Place

Term
Date
traced (in
red ink)

61
 FORM NO. 4C
REGISTER OF FINGER PRINT SEARCH SLIPS RECEIVED
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Distric Date on Bureau Name Date on Why Date of receipt Classification Remarks
t Serial which Serial No. of which returned of FP slip and
No. received convicts returned as received back arrangement
unfit for after
record correction

FORM NO. 4D
REGISTER OF DISPATCH TO AND RETURN FROM COURTS OF FP SLIPS REQUISITIONED FOR EVIDENCE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Seri Slip relating to Classificati Summons for Date Initials Date Initials Remar
al on and slips of of of of ks
No. Name Father’s Caste Residenc arrangeme Issue No. Date dispat dispatc retur receivi
Name e nt of slip d by ch of hing n of ng
slip officer slip officer

62
 FORM NO. 4E
REGISTER OF PROFICIENTS AND EXPERTS

1 2 4 5 6
Serial Rank and Grade Provincial or Name Date of Remarks
No. constabulary No. qualifying

63
 Form No. 6
(to be returned in original with reply noted in
right hand column) OFFICER-IN
CHARGE,
No. Finger Print
Dated PHILLAUR the 20 Bureau,
To Phillaur.
The Superintendent of Police,
_____________________________
_____________________________

Returns herewith the F.P.Slip of the prisoner

named below, forwarded with his dispatch No._______
cheque No. ______. Dated: ______, for reasons Dated_______the 20
noted against point_________. To
1. The rolled impressions are so faint and The Officer-In-Charge,
blurred that no sub-classification is Finger Print Bureau,
possible. Phillaur.
2. The rolled impressions have not been
taken in their proper places.
3. The plain impressions have not been
taken simultaneously, nor in the places
assigned for them.
4. The plain impressions of the hand do not
tally with the order of the rolled
impressions of that hand.
5. The impressions of ____ finger have not
been fully rolled.
6. The Jail admission number has not been
noted.
7. The name, the father’s name and place of
convict’s residence have not been duly
noted.
8. The convictions noted on the slips are
incomplete and wanting in the following
particular:-
9. The previous convict ions have not been
entered, though section 75. IPC, has
been applied to the present conviction.
10. The officers preparing and testing the slip
have not signed their names.
11. The date on which and the place where
the slip was prepared and tested have
not been given.
12. The certificate of verification of
convictions not signed by the prosecuting
inspector.
13. The name of the Bureau from where
previous convictions were traced and
date of trace not given.
64
 Form No. 15.
(Red slip referred to in Section 15)
ABSCONDER

Name_________________________________________

Alias__________________________________________

No. and date of First information Report and Section of

Law_____________________________

Name of Police Station______________________________

District__________________________________________

Intimation of arrest to be __________________________________________

Sent to ___________________________________________

Date of Arrest__________________________________

District Serial No..__________________

FP Classification No.________________________

60
 Form No. 18.

1 2 3 4 5 6
Sr.No. Name, Father’s name Native District Reference to Classification
and Caste district and state the invoice No.
and state. where with name of
convicted office from
which received

61
 Form No. 19 (6)

Statement of ex-convicts of _________ District whose slips are to be

eliminated from the Bureau --- vide rule 19 of the Finger Print Manual,
Part-III

Name District Residence Last Conviction

parent age Serial
and case of No.

Classification . No.
Ex-convicts

Station

Remarks
Section
Police .
Village
Sr.No.

Place

Term
Date

62
 Chapter – III
Organisational Setup of Finger Print System in the State

Section 1 :- Charge of the Finger Print Bureau :- The State Finger

Print Bureau a Scientific unit of Punjab Police, shall function under the
administrative control of Director preferably in the rank of
Superintendent of Police/ Dy. Superintendent of Police an officer with
known integrity, established honesty with unblemished record of service
and enjoying reputation of a mature Finger Print Expert of tall stature. In
case the Director holds the rank of Dy. Superintendent of Police, he shall
enjoy all powers vested in a District Superintendent of Police as laid
down in PPR 1.8. The overall control of the Bureau shall be with the
Additional Director General of Police Crime Punjab Chandigarh.

Section 2:- Duties of DSP/Inspector in the State Finger Print Bureau

:- The Director (Superintendent of Police/Dy. Superintendent of Police)
shall be assisted by DSP/Inspector in the disposal of work of the bureau.
1) The DSP/Inspector shall be responsible for receipt of daily
dak including cases under personal supervision of Director. The
documents of case work received for opinion shall be personally handed
over by the Director to the officer incharge entrusted with the custody of
such documents. This officer shall keep files of the case work in the safe
having duplicate keys_____ one in the custody of the officer and the
second key with the Director.
2) The incharge of the case work shall distribute the case work
for initiation amongst Finger Print Experts (Inspectors / SIs).
3) This officer shall give case files of those references where
experts have recommended photographs to the photographer under
proper receipt.
4) The cases after complete scrutiny shall be submitted to the
Director for approval by the incharge of case work.
5) The disposal of the cases with opinion shall be done by the
Director under his own signature and dispatched by the incharge case
work to the quarters concerned under his personnel supervision under
registered cover or insured cover as per the requirement of the reference.
Section 3 :- Distribution of Classification of F.P.(R) Slips & Search
Slips :- The inspector incharge nominated by the Director shall
distribute daily work to the staff for :-
1. Classification
2. Testing of Finger Print (R) Slips.
3. Rummaging of Finger Print (R) Slips in search work.
4. Miscellaneous work i.e. entry of Finger Print (R) Slips in registers
before filing and actual filing of record slips in the stored record.

63
Section 4 :- The Duties of Experts and staff :-
I To receive and examine all Finger Print Slips and ensure
that the impressions on them are clear, complete and in
proper order and that the entries are correctly filled in. If
not fit for record it shall be returned with a Memo (Form
No.6) explaining what is required for its completion or
correction.
II According to the separate instructions issued in the
prescribed forms of chart of sub classification and method
of sub classification to classify and arrange in its proper
pigeon hole and in its proper order every Finger Print Slip
received for record after checking its classification number
and indexing the slip.
III To search for the finger Print Slips of unidentified persons
whose Finger Print Slips are received in the bureau for
identification. If he received any search slip in F.P.B. from
other countries vide Section 17, Part-II then he will
transmitted to the C.F.P.B. GO1, Delhi after necessary
check under a list in triplicate proforma which is mentioned
below for onward transmission to the concerned foreign
Bureau :-
Sr. District Court if Registration U.R. No. I Remarks
No. available i.e. FIR No., Date,
Section of Law, Police
Station, District
1 2 3 4 5

IV To revise the Finger Print Slips already stored and classified

with a view to checking and correcting mistakes in the
classification arrangement or filling of records. F.P. slips of
re-convicted convicts, received under Section 26(7), Part V
shall take the place of the former slips on record and the
latter shall then be destroyed.
V To give expert opinion on all impressions received in the
bureau for opinion.
VI Expert evidence in courts.
VII Preparation of Finger Print Slips from the dissected skin
pieces of the unidentified dead bodies received from the
various districts.
VIII Visiting scene of crime for the detection / development of
chance prints.
IX Development of chance prints on crime articles received in
the bureau.
X Imparting training to Finger Print professional, police
officers, judicial officers, administrator and others.

64
 XI Training regarding photography, proficiency, head
proficient, basic course and promotional courses.
XII To maintain and keep up the following registers in the
prescribed forms :-
1. Register of Search Slips received (Form 4A).
2. Register of Traced Search Slips (Form 4B).
3. Register of Finger Print Slips received for record (Form
4C).
4. File book of information received regarding death of
persons whose slips are on record (prescribed by Section
15 of this chapter).
5. Index Register of Finger Print Slips received from other
states (prescribed by Section 16 of this chapter).
6. Order book.
7. Inspector's Daily Diary.
8. Register of Requisitions for Finger Print Slips (Form 4D).
9. Register of Proficients and Experts (Form 4E).

Section 5 :- Photographic Studio :- The photographic department of the

Finger Print Bureau will be under the charge of a specially qualified
Finger Print Expert officer of the staff not below the rank of Inspector.
This unit will function under the Direct supervision of the Director Finger
Print Bureau.

Duties of the photographer :- It is the duty of the photographer :-

A. to undertake all photographic work in connection with finger
prints.
B. to instruct all students of the Police Department deputed to the
bureau for a course of photography.
C. to maintain in proper working order all apparatus provided by
Government in connection with the Photographic Department
of the bureau..
D. to keep clean and in order the "Dark rooms" attached to the
Studio and to keep up to requirements a sufficient supply of
chemicals, plates, paper etc.
E. to maintain and keep up such stock registers as may, from
time to time, be ordered by the Superintendent of Police / Dy.
Superintendent of Police-cum-Director.
The Photographic Expert will not be allowed to undertake any
private work without the sanction of the Superintendent of
Police / Dy. Superintendent of Police-cum-Director.

65
Section 6 :- Modernisation :- Presently Finger Print Bureau is fully
computerized with FACTS for the purpose of recording, matching and
searching Finger Prints. In this modern era the Finger Print Bureau will
also be upgraded by AFIS which will prove helpful for speedy results of
comparison of chance prints at the scene of crime etc. Other modern
Finger Print equipments Digital Camera, Scanner and Laptop are also in
the pipe line to be provided to the Finger Print Experts. The computer
section of Finger Print Bureau shall be under the charge of Inspector
working under the personal supervision of the Director Finger Print
Bureau, Phillaur.

Duties of Inspector I/C Computer Section :-

1. To supervise the work of all experts working on computer.
2. To maintain stock register of computer related equipments.

Duties of server operator :-

1. To take time to time monthly FP Data Backup.
2. For cleanliness of all computers and other equipments.
3. For maintenance of A/C, Computers and UPS etc.
4. To maintain register of Data Backup Storage Device and give
report to Director Finger Print Bureau.
5. To give daily report to Director Finger Print Bureau through
Incharge Computer.
6. To show working of FACTS in Finger Print work to all the visitors
and trainees being run by the Academy.

Section 7 :- Entry in Finger Print Bureau :- The officer who joins the
Bureau is required to examine finger prints of different hues – sometimes
obliterated, super-imposed, faint partial or over inked. This ability in a
finger print man has to be cultivated by making him work in the field for
quite sometime and in this endeavour he is trained to co-ordinate his
mental and visual faculties. A trained finger print officer under the
circumstances, can not be transferred out of the Bureau unless there are
grave charges of misconduct or indiscipline against him. Finger Print
Bureau personnel serve in it as it constitutes a separate cadre in the
Police Department.

7. 1 (a) There shall be an adequate staff comprising gazetted officers, non

gazetted officers and ORs to establish Finger Print Units / Pocket
Bureaux in all Police Districts to render help in the detection of crime
and apprehension of criminals.

(b) The staff of the Bureau will be selected from amongst graduate
Constables of the force on one rank promotion.

66
7.2. (a) Procedure of promotion :-
(I) Promotion in each rank in the Finger Print Bureau shall be made
by selection tempered by seniority. Each Sub Inspector for promotion
to the rank of Inspector, shall have to pass Finger Print Expert
Examination within the stipulated attempts, as prescribed by the
Central Finger Print Bureau / NCRB, Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India, New Delhi.

(b) The Finger Print Bureau being a technical and specialized unit, an
officer of the Finger Print Bureau, of the rank of Inspector, having
completed three years of experience, shall be eligible for promotion to
the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

(c) Promotion in each rank in Finger Print Bureau shall be based on

seniority and merit and being a closed cadre shall not entitle him to
any seniority over his counterparts in the force.

(d) That officers of the Finger Print Bureau shall not be entitled to be
considered for promotion and posting outside the purview of avenues
of promotion of Finger Print Bureau.

Accommodation of staff :-
As envisaged in PPR 3.19 every police officer is entitled for
free accommodation. The staff of State Finger Print Bureau, Phillaur will
be provided by the force in the Housing Colonies built by Punjab Police
Housing Corporation near his/her posting.

Section 8 :- Duties of the Clerical Staff :-

A. Head Clerk : - Under PPR 11.1 he will work as Incharge of the English
Office and Account branch. He will be responsible for punctual/timely
disposal of Correspondence, submission of periodical reports and
returns. He will also exercise an effective supervision for the correctness
of the Accounts matters. He will exercise disciplinary control and general
supervision over the other Executive clerks and will see the regular
attendance of clerks and will arrange for the work of absentees and for
the proper training of junior clerks. He will receive and open the mail. He
will sign necessary letters etc., for Superintendent of Police in case no
senior officer is available.
He will maintain files related to Civil/Criminal cases etc., and
submit the same to the Director, Finger Print Bureau as and when
required.

B. Asst. Head Clerk-Cum-CRC):- He will work as Asst. Head Clerk-

Cum-CRC and will assist the head clerk in the disposal of dak and in the
absence of the head clerk he will look after the work/duties of Head
Clerk. He will be responsible for performing the below mentioned duties:
67
 Maintenance of Registers:-

1. Age Register (PPR 9.17(1)A)

2. Age Register (PPR 9.17(1)B)
3. Clothing Registers (PPR 4.34 (i) and 4.34 (ii)
4. Check lists with regard to the issuance of clothing
articles/equipments, to the NGOs.
5. Register of Major and Minor works.
6. Register of House Rent Allowance and allotment of Govt.
Family quarters (PPR 3.20)
7. Conveyance Allowance Register (PPR 10.75)
8. Stationery Register (Stock/distribution register).
9. Stock Registers (5.16 and 5.17 PPR)
10. Casual leave register.
11. long/Earned Leave Register (PPR 8.14(b))
12. Punishment Register (PPR16.14)
13. Maintenance of Hand Book of NGOs and Ors.
14. Annual Medical check up register.
15. Correspondence with regard to the annual confidential
reports.
16. Stock register
17. Register of identity cards.

He will up-keep/maintain the Character Rolls and will keep

the movements of Character Rolls in the Movement Register accurately.

He will also maintain the office records pertaining to the

English office/Accounts Branch and concerning to the above said
registers/service matters/establishment related matters.

He will also work as Punjabi Typist in case of need and will

perform any other duties assigned by the Head Clerk from time to time.

He will invariably put up a list of all Police personnel of this

Bureau well before six months of their dates of retirements to Typist-
Cum-Pension Clerk for preparing their pension cases well in time. He will
also take up the cases for extension in service well before 9 months in
each case.

C Typist-Cum-Pension Clerk:-

He will work as English typist-cum-Pension Clerk and will

type out the various letters/statements/returns etc. pertaining to the
establishment/Accounts matters and will also type out copies of various
orders/instructions issued by the Punjab Govt. and other higher offices.

68
 In addition to his type duty he will prepare the pension cases
in respect of the Finger Print Bureau Personnel. He will remain in touch
with the Asstt. Head Clerk-Cum-CRC in connection with pension cases of
those employees who become due for retirement within next six months.
He will ensure the speedy and timely settlement of the pension
cases/family pension cases. He will maintain up-keep the pension
register. He will look after the work of diarist-cum-dispatcher in his
absence/leave etc.

He will also deal with/prepare the cases of enlistment under

the Priority List Instructions. He will perform any other duty as assigned
by the Head Clerk.

He will be responsible to type all officials’ opinions of

Civil/Criminal cases.

D. Diarist-Cum-Dispatcher:-
He will work as Diarist-Cum-Dispatcher of English and
Account Branch. he will diaries and dispatch all the letters /Govt.
instructions and other letters etc., pertaining to the service
matters/general establishment and Govt. Policies / instructions and will
link-up/chain the same vice versa so as to know the exact whereabouts
of the same at later stages. He will maintain the said registers including
the stamp register accurately.
He will also work as Leave Reserve. He will perform any other
duties as assigned to him by the Head Clerk at time of need. He will look
after the work of Typist –Cum-Pension Clerk when the latter goes on
leave etc.
He will ensure that all search references received in the
bureau be got diaried and dispatched to the quarter concerned. He will
be responsible for getting traced and untraced foils signed by the
Director.

E. Accountant-Cum-Bill Clerk:
He will work as Accountant-Cum-Bill clerk and will maintain
and up-keep all the registers pertaining to the accounts mattes
accurately. He will get the various claims of the retirees as well as serving
Police personnel of this office settled expeditiously/timely. Also he will
ensure the timely settlement/disposal of retirement/death benefits in
death cases. He will work as pay bill clerk of Upper subordinates as well
as Lower subordinates besides his working as contingent clerk etc. he
will maintain the cash book properly and accurately and will be
responsible for any lapse/incorrectness.

69
 He will be responsible for submitting timely
replies/information etc. to the higher offices as well as other offices.
Director, Finger Print Bureau will be responsible to ensure
the presence of all executive clerks.

Organisational Set up of Finger Print Bureau, Phillaur :-

Structure of Finger Print Bureau shall constitute the following
components :-
I State Finger Print Bureau.
II Zonal / Range Mobile unit (Zonal / Range Finger Print Bureau).
III District Mobile Unit (District Finger Print Bureau ).

Finger Print Pocket Bureau :-

There shall be a Pocket Finger Print Bureau in each district.
The organizational setup of this bureau is as under :-
a) Inspector - 1
b) Sub-Inspector - 2 (One established Finger Print
Expert)
c) Photographer - 1 (having the rank of Sub-Inspector
of Bureau Staff)

This unit will also attend to the technical requirements vis-a-

vis utilization of computer technology. The inspector shall also supervise
the work of Proficient Branch of district.

This unit shall also be responsible for assisting the district

police in the examination of Scene of Crime. The district police should
arrange for the mobility of this unit for inspection of Scene of Crime.

Posting of Finger Print Experts at Range / Districts :-

Finger Print Experts at Range / District level will be
posted by the Director, Finger Print Bureau, Phillaur and will
function under the administrative control of Director, Finger Print
Bureau, Phillaur. District Expert will supervise work of Head
Proficient and Assistant Head Proficient at District and Sub
Divisional Courts level.
The Staff of the Pocket Bureau will assist local police
for preserving clues found at scene of crime. Senior
Superintendent of Police of respective district will provide suitable
office accommodation to them.

Section 9:- F.P. slips intended for record in other Bureaux shall
be forwarded to the Bureaux concerned after noting on each. copy
the name of the Bureau in which the slip is to be recorded.

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Section 10 :- When a search slip has been unsuccessful, the
searcher shall write on the search slip untraced and return it to
the office for transmission to the district from which it was
received.

Section 11:- When a search has been successful the searcher

shall write on the search slip "traced" and enter on it from the F.P.
slip or other record in which the person in question has been
traced his real name, address and his previous convictions. He will
attach the F.P. slip to the search slip and make them over to the
Inspector of Police.

(1):- The Inspector of Police will check the work of the

searcher by comparing the two slips to see that the finger prints
correspond in every particular and that the entries have been
properly written up. He will then initial the search slip and after
detaching it will return it to the district from which it was received
and he will cause the slip on record in the Bureau to be replaced
in the pigeon-hole from which it was taken.

(2):- If the slip refers to an absconder regarding whom action

has previously been taken under the provisions of Sections 13 and
14 of this Part, prompt intimation of his arrest shall be sent direct
to the district which reported his absence.

(3):- The Officer-in-Charge of the Bureau may exercise his

discretion as to whether the number of previous convictions
should be communicated by telegram to the district concerned.

(4):- All slips received for search should be returned within

24 hours of the receipt, if possible.
(5):- Slips submitted for search in which the prints have not
been taken in the proper sequence or are so blurred as to render
classification impossible should be returned without search and
fresh slips called for.

Section 12(1) :- When the summons and duplicate finger print

slip referred to in Section 24 (a), Part II, is received from a district
situated outside of the Punjab, the Officer-in-Charge of the Finger
Print Bureau shall himself take out of the almirah the F.P. slip
required. He shall dispatch it by post under a registered cover
addressed to the Magistrate by name and at the same time notify
the Superintendent of Police concerned. The duplicate slip above

71
referred to shall take the place of the original slip dispatched to the
Magistrate. Necessary entries shall be made in the Register of
Requisitions for F.P. Slips (Form No. 4D). If the summons has been
received from the districts of the Punjab as required by Section
24(c), Part II, the traced slip will be sent per hand of the expert
deputed to give evidence in the case.

Section 13(a):- In all civil cases in which the parties or any of

them apply to the Bureau for expert opinion in the matter of
deciphering finger impressions and other work of a similar
character, the Government has sanctioned the payment of a fee of
Rs. 20 for every reference and a further fee of Rs. 5 for each finger
impression sent for examination when the total number so sent
exceeds five. The fee should be paid into the local treasury for
credit to head on "0055-Police-103- Fee, Fine and Fourfeature",
and the receipt for the same forwarded, with the exhibits, to be
filed at the Finger Print Bureau, vide Home Secretary to
Government, Punjab’s Letter No. 3324 - 3H – 61 / 10481 dated the
27th of March, 1961, to the Inspector-General of Police, Punjab,
Chandigarh.
13 (b):- In order to prevent experts in finger prints from being
unnecessarily summoned from the Bureau to give evidence in Civil
Courts the following instructions have been issued by the
Government,—vide Home Secretary to Government, Punjab's letter
No. 18737—Police, dated the 11th July, 1921 to the Registrar, High
Court of Judicature at Lahore.
13 (c):- Courts should send original disputed documents in civil
cases direct in the first instance to the Bureau for expert
examination and opinion;
13 (d):- should a party to a suit desire such opinion to be received
in evidence, an expert of the Bureau staff should be summoned to
the court of the Sub-Judge at Phillaur and examined on
commission on a day to be set apart in the week for the hearing of
evidence in such cases ;
13 (e):- in accordance with High Court circular Memo.
No. 8-01914-G., dated the 10th May, 1901, it should be left to the
Bureau to enter in the summons the name of the expert deputed to
be examined.
As regards the fees to be fixed for the Commissioner's work
this should vary with the value of the civil suit in connection with
which the commission is issued subject to a maximum of Rs. 20.

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For suits of small value a small fee should be charged but the
maximum fee should be charged in suits of big value. The amount
of the fee should in each case be fixed by the court issuing the
commission and it should all be credit to Government in the local
treasury.
A fee in addition to that levied under paragraph 13 for the
scrutiny (plus written opinion) should be fixed by the court issuing
the commission, subject to a maximum of Rs. 20/-, and should be
levied for the attendance of the expert in the court. One-third of
this latter fee should be paid to the expert and should be remitted
by the court issuing the commission direct to the Sub-Judge at
Phillaur, who will make it over to the expert, and the balance of
2/3rds should be credited by the court into the local treasury.
No fee is leviable in criminal cases launched by
Government.

13 (f) :- On receipt of information sent to the Bureau under Section

46(1), Part II, that a prisoner has escaped from jail or has escaped
from police custody, search shall be made for the F.P. slip
containing the finger prints of the prisoner in question, and after
noting the information received, on a red slip (Form No. 15) which
will then be attached to the slip, the F.P. slip shall be replaced in
the almirah. A copy of the red slip, together with the absconder's
classification number, will be sent by the Bureau to the other
Bureaux in which the absconder's ringer prints are on record.

Section 14 :- On receipt under the instructions contained in

Section 42, Part II, of the finger print slips of a person who has
died or has absconded from police custody after committing an
offence, the F.P. slip of the person in question shall be traced and
shall be replaced in the almirah after the information received has
been noted on it.

Section 15:- A file book shall be maintained for the record of

information received under Section 42 regarding the death of
persons whose F.P. slips are on record. The F.P. slips of persons
reported to have died, otherwise than in jails, shall be preserved
until the lapse of five complete year from dale of the receipt of the
report of death, and shall then be destroyed But slips of persons
who die in jail shall be destroyed at once.

Section 16:- A name index register (in Form No. 18) shall be
maintained of all finger print slips received from other States.

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 Chapter – IV

Finger Prints At Scenes of Crime

All Forensic Sciences have their origin in the principle which

inter-alia states that all Mutual contacts leave traces. It may be
mentioned here that opinion of all forensic experts except that of finger
Print Expert are corroborative in nature. However, solitary evidence of
finger Print Expert is sufficient to prove the guilt of accused. Naturally
when a crime is committed, the criminals leave traces behind at the
scene of crime in the form of Finger Prints which are termed as chance
Prints.
The investigating officer arriving at the Scene of Crime
should preserve it from sight seers or on lookers. If this is not ensured,
the fragile clues i.e. finger Prints may get obliterated or destroyed by their
movements.
Finger Print Expert alongwith the photographer should
preferably be the 1st officers to inspect the scene of crime.
Any article suspected to bear chance prints should be
carefully examined and preserved. These prints may be visible or
invisible (latent). And, before any latent print can be photographed, these
have to be made distinct.

The most common processes used for this purpose are :-

1. Use of Finger Print powders :- These are very finely powder

chemicals and are available in different colors. Selection of color
will depend on the colors of the surface on which the prints are to
be developed. The two colors should provide the maximum of
contrast as this will help in obtaining a clear photograph. The
following table, embodying the results of experiments made at
Phillaur, shows the best powder to use in different
circumstances :-

Surface Powder remarks

Glass Graphite or Grey This is unnecessary
Powder except for
All naked metal Grey Powder photographic
surfaces purposes

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 Japanned surfaces Grey Powder
Enameled surface Graphite when surface is
white, grey powder for
other color
White paper Graphite
Dark colored paper Grey Powder
Painted Graphite for white surface,
surface grey powder for all other
Wooden Grey Powder
surface
Multi colored Anthrascene, Florescent
surfaces

Caution: Finger Prints which are at all visible should not be subjected to
the methods described above, their clearing, etc., should be left to the
Bureau experts.
The application of powders is done with the help of very soft
brushes either of camel hair or feather brushes.

2 (i):- When finger impressions have been found they should be dealt
with as indicated above. If impressions have been developed and it is
considered necessary that the examination of prints be done by the
Bureau Experts, the articles in question, if portable, should be carefully
dispatched to the Bureau. But it should be remembered that if the
impressions are found outside the house, these must be protected from
possible rain, wind, and dust etc and thereafter got examined by the
Expert cum photographer.
(ii) In transporting an article to the Finger print Bureau, proper
attention must be given to its packing. No hard and fast rules can be
prescribed for packing articles but various ways will suggest themselves
to the Investigating Officer. The golden rule is and it must be observed
that the surface bearing impressions should not come into contact
with the packing material. A few instances of packing, taken from
Collin's pamphlet are given below for guidance.

75
 Method of packing of candle Method of packing of tumbler

Method of packing of Bottle Method of packing of wine glass

Method of packing of Knife Method of packing of piece of glass

(iii) Finger impression sent to the Bureau for examination should be

accompanied by sample impressions of persons arrested, and, in the
case of offences against property, by the sample impressions of other
local criminals who are known to operate in the locality within which the
offences have been committed. The investigating officer should also
remember that while handling articles in his search for finger
impressions he is likely to impress them with his own finger prints. There
is also a possibility that other innocent persons (such as the owners of
burgled houses and those who have visited the scene of the crime before
the arrival of the police) have also handled some of the articles. It is,
therefore, desirable, in order to avoid confusion, that the sample
impressions of the investigating officer and other persons mentioned
above should also accompany the prints forwarded for examination.

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(iv) In each district there is a trained Police Photographer and Finger
Print Expert, as far as possible, they should be utilised by the
Investigating Officers in examining scenes of crime. When impressions
are found on non-portable articles, their exact position should carefully
be noted for future reference and in the case of those articles which are
taken into custody or are dispatched to the Bureau for examination;
labels showing a reference to case F.I.R. No., date Police Station, and
section of law must be attached.

(v) Sometimes, when impressions are found on non-portable articles,

or at such places which are beyond the reach of a camera, it becomes
necessary to lift them by means of folien paper. This consists of a fabric
coated on one side with an adhesive substance which is covered with a
thin celluloid preservative. It gives best results with Universal Powder
which is a special preparation. The prints which are transferred with it
show white lines on a black back –ground and are, therefore, specially
suitable for photography. its use is very simple. The spots on any articles
where traces of fingerprints are found should be first treated with
Universal Powder by means of a broad soft brush. When the trace of the
finger print is clearly visible on the sub-soil, then, a piece of folien
corresponding with the size of the trace should be cut off from the foil
and placed on the dusted trace after carefully taking off the celluloid
covering. The foil should be placed with one corner on the powdering
impression and spread over it by lightly going over the foil with a finger.
The piece of the folien paper should then cautiously be removed and the
lifted impression preserved again by covering the adhesive surface with
the celluloid covering, removed previously. It is necessary to take care
that excessive hard pressure is not put on the foil either at the time of
transferring the trace, or when replacing the celluloid covering, as it may
not only damage the ridges but may even render them useless for
comparison. It is also essential to take necessary precautions that air
bubbles are not allowed to form during the process of lifting, as well as,
preserving. As the transfers made by means of folien paper do not show
identifiable features of the surface from which the impression has been
lifted, it should not be used as a convenient substitute for photography
and in order to obviate adverse criticism of this process in a court of law,
the investigating officer should give special attention to the following
points:-
(a) All precautions should be taken to protect the lifted impressions
(which may have to be produced as exhibits) from the time they are lifted
until they have been compared
Or photographed in the Finger Print Bureau and returned to the office of
origin.

77
(b) The impression lifted on folien paper should be treated as articles
recovered from the scene of crime or in the course of a house search.
They should be lifted in the presence of reliable witnesses, who should
sign on the back of the folien paper.
The necessary memo should also be prepared and signed by
reliable witnesses. The description of the article and location of the prints
which are lifted should be clearly stated in the recovery memo.
(c) The persons witnessing the transfer of the prints should be asked
to record their signatures at the spot from which the impression was
taken, and this fact should be mentioned in the recovery memo. The
article should be carefully kept for production in court.
(d) Investigating officers must mention the lifting and transferring of
prints in their case diaries.
(e) Folien paper should be used with discretion and prints should not
be lifted from small articles that can conveniently be sent to the Finger
Print Bureau for examination.
The lifted impressions should be sent to the Finger Print Bureau
for examination along with the sample impressions in the usual manner.
Besides folien paper, other lifting materials are also available in the
market.

3. Each Police Station should be equipped with at least, two sets of

appliances required for recording finger prints.

METHOD OF RECORDING FINGERPRINT OF DEAD BODY

When the identities of persons killed by accident under

suspicious circumstances, or in the act of committing dacoity,
burglaries, or other offences , have not been fully ascertained by
ordinary enquiries , their finger prints shall be taken on search slip
forms, whenever possible , and shall be sent to the Bureau for
identification . Ordinarily, there is not much difficulty in taking
impressions from the fingers of a corpse, but is sometimes
happens that the skin of the fingers is so contracted and wrinkled
that decipherable prints cannot be obtained. In such cases a
medical officer should be asked to dissect the skin from the first
phalanges of the fingers. The Police officer responsible for the
recovery of such a dead body shall insist on the medical officer,
performing the post-mortem to remove only the skin of the first
phalanges of the thumbs and figures and not to amputate the
whole phalange or finger with bone and flesh, as it hastens decay
and makes it difficult to obtain decipherable impressions, since no
arrangements for dissection exist at the bureau. Such detached
piece of skin shall be carefully put in a separate phial with wide
neck, and completely immersed in a solution made up of Glycerin –

78
one –third, water- two –third and formalin 5% (preservative). These
phials shall be sealed and packed in a small box, preferably
wooden, and sent to the Bureau for necessary action. It should be
ensured that each phial bears a printed label showing the digit to
which the dissected skin belongs.

USE OF CADAVER'S FINGERPRINT TAKING KIT

1. Skin softening solution : Before taking fingerprint of the

deceased, softening solution should be used to clean and
remove the dirt, grit and other foreign matter from the skin
of fresh hardened, sunken, burnt dehydrated or decomposed
dead bodies. The solution make possible to obtained legible
fingerprints of brick worker, masons, agriculture workers,
elderly or of poor structure of ridges. The softening solution
will make the skin soften and remove all dusty matters for
better reproduction. Disposable pads or English cotton
should be used to wash and clean the fingers of the
deceased.
In case of hardened dead body when rigrous mortis has set
in both hands of dead body should be put in boiled water
and liquid soap solution after 20-25 minutes right hand
should be removed first from the water immediately after
drying the skin, finger prints can easily be taken. Similarly
finger prints of left hand should be taken.

2. Finger Straightner: This instrument will be used to

straighten clenched fingers of the deceased to permit taking
good quality of fingerprints. This tool comprises three
separate tools, each tool features different sized hole opening
to accommodate the vast majority of fingers.
 Use straightner with an opening that closely matches
the width of fingers
 Slide the straightner over finger prints
 While pulling the straightner back against the finger
tip.
 Rotate the finger open until it is against the
straightner.

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3. Finger Printing Spoon: To begin with the right hand put the
fingerprint slip into the card holder with the right thumb in
the first position. Make sure that the card is depressed to fit
snugly in the arc of the holder. The fingerprint pad is used to
easily ink the finger, no matter how stiff they may be.
 Do not roles the ink pad around the finger.
 Simple rub the ink pad in one direction of each finger
from left to right.
 Gently place the finger in the arc of the holder and
exert pressure on the finger.
 Do not roles the finger simply press it from the plane
of the nail.

4. Tissue builder: Tissue builder is used only for the dead

person whose finger bulbs are shriveled and sunken. This
tissue builder fills out the epidermis skin so that suitable
impression of the digit may be taken. Inject the tissue
builder under the skin of each finger using the syringes. Best
result can be obtained by inserting the needle beyond the
core of the finger ball and injecting slowly while withdrawing
the needle. Inject sufficient tissue builder to fill out the
entire collapsed area of the finger After taking the rolled
prints of the ten digits, plain including palm print invariable
must be taken. Gently place flat palm with close fingers on
ink slab after applying slight pressure on the digit, fingers,
mounts and thumbs. The palm should be immediately lift up
and place on a full scap plain paper and impressed it and
simply impressed it.

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 Decomposed Dead Body

Finger Prints from the corps of the dead if could not clearly
be taken or skin of the fingers is in advanced stage of
decomposition whose finger prints could not be taken in any case
then medical officer will be requested to peel off the ten digit skin
pieces of the dead body for sending it to the State Finger Print
Bureau. The following precautions will be taken while dissecting
the skin pieces.
 Epidermis skin of the upper phalanges is only to be got
removed without bones, flesh and nails.
 Small phials especially of plastic made with a screw cover
should be arranged bearing labeled indicating the name of
each digit.
 Each skin piece of each finger should be put in the proper
phials.
 The ten digit dissected skin pieces shall be preserved with
glycerin, formalin and water.
 These ten phials shall be packed in a small box and sent to
the finger Print Bureau through special messenger alongwith
the forwarding letter, copy of postmortem report and brief-
facts.

Suggestion for fingerprint operator taking finger prints

from the dissecting skin pieces in the lab of the state
Finger Print Bureau, Phillaur:

In case of hardened: The skin pieces should be kept in hot water

and liquid soap solution for some minutes. After 15-20 minutes
the condition of the skin be checked, if the skin is going in
decomposition then the skin pieces should immediately be
removed from the solution and the fingerprint taken immediately.
 If the dissected skin pieces are in burnt condition gently
removed bad forms and dump/burnt portion of the skin after
making smooth surface of the skin clear fingerprint can be
taken.
 Skin pieces found in the phials with flesh that is epidermis
skin bears a huge phase of flesh then operator through his
hard and patience, the flesh as much as possible should be
removed from the epidermis skin with the sharp knife or
razors. Such skin can be make soften by applying rolled-
rerolled process by simple weighting through bloating pad.
Clear and comparable fingerprints can be taken.
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  If the skin of distant fingers is in rugged or rough and
breakage condition, such skin pieces gently be got rubbed
with the help of disposable pad to remove the disturbed
layers and clear fingerprints can be recorded.
 In case the epidermis skin totally decomposed or disappear
only the mass of flesh bearing dermis skin are received in
the fingerprint bureau which do not obliging to ink then
place the softening tissues on an electric charged bulb to
remove the sweaty and wetty matters and sufficient
comparable data can be recorded.
 Direct photography with black & white camera of such
tissues can also be made after applying very small quantity
of the ink on the dermis skin.

Finger Prints taken on the slip from the corps of the

dead by the investigating officer or taken from the dissected skin
pieces by the operator at the finger print Bureau, Phillaur shall be
carried out search in record of this bureau manually as well as on
FACTS and identity of the deceased can be establish through the
system of Dactylography

Whenever a conjecture as to the identify of the body

can be made, the finger impressions forwarded to the Bureau
should be accompanied by any documents bearing the supposed
person’s finger impressions that can be obtained. Such documents
may often be found amongst revenue records, deeds relating to the
sale, transfer and mortgage or property, marriage, contracts to
establish their identity.

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 Chapter V

Uses, Classification and arrangement of Finger Print Slips

Use of Finger Prints :-

1. The employment of the Finger Print System is not restricted to

the Police Department, but has been introduced into all branches
of public business being particularly well suited to the
requirement of a country where the mass of the people are
uneducated and false personation is an evil which even the
penalties provided by the penal laws, are powerless to control.

2. It must be recognised that the use of Finger Prints in proof or

disproof of identity, is an efficient method of preventing perjury
and personation. No objection can be raised on the ground of
religion or caste, or rank in society, so there is little prejudice to
be over come in obtaining finger prints. The Government was so
fully convinced of the effectiveness of this system that the Indian
Legislature passed a special Act (Act V of 1899) amending the law
of evidence to the extent of declaring relevant the testimony of
those, who by study have become proficient in comparing finger
prints.

3. It cannot be said when and by whom the practical application of

the science of "Dactyloscopy", as the technique of finger printing
is called, was made, but it is an admitted fact of history that
about two centuries B.C. the Chinese employed clay seals
bearing finger prints for sealing documents. Coming down to
more recent times, the name of J.E. Purkinje, Dr. Henry Faulds,
Sir William Harschel, Sir Francis Galton and Sir E.R. Henry are
specially note-worthy. Sir William Harschel was an
administrative Officer of the Hooghly District in Bengal, India
and made practical use of finger prints for several years in
identifying Government Pensioners as well as prisoners.

4. Sir Francis Galton, however, laid the real foundation of the

present system of finger print identification, but this method of
classification could not be applied to large collections. This part
of work was taken up and perfected by Sir E.R. Henry from
whose book "Classification and Uses of Finger Prints" the most of
the material in this part of the manual has been taken. The

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 system of classification devised by him forms, practically, the
basis of all the classification systems used throughout the world.
India adopted the Finger Print System of identification by a
revolution dated June 12, 1897, passed by the Governor General
in council on the recommendation of the committee. The Punjab
Police Finger Print Bureau at Phillaur was started in the year
1894 on the Bertillon's Anthropometrical System and adopted the
Henry's System of classification by about the year 1900.

5. "Plain” and "Rolled" impressions how taken. Impressions are

taken in two ways, as "rolled" and as "plain" impressions. Figure
1 is an example of the "plain" and Figure 2 of the "rolled"
impressions of a finger. To take a "rolled" impression, the inked
bulb of the finger is placed upon the paper in such a way that
the plane of the nail is at right angles to the plane of the paper
and the finger is then turned over until the bulb surface,

FIG. 1. FIG. 2.

which originally faced to the left, now faces to the right, the
plane of the nail being again at right angles to the paper. By this
means a clear rolled impression of the finger surface is obtained.
Care must be taken not to press the finger too heavily on the
inked slab or subsequently too heavily on the paper, otherwise a
blurred or indistinct impression results.

To obtain good impressions the following details must receive

attention. The tin slab in use should be free from dust, hairs or
other foreign matter. It should be freshly cleaned each day, all
traces of ink previously used being removed. A very small
quantity-of ink should be applied, and this should be worked up
into the thinnest possible film: unless the film is thin, me
impression obtained will not be clear and sharply defined. From
a finger so inked a good impression is secured, as even
additional pressure will not do much harm. The paper used
should be white and its surface not too glazed. If it is not
sufficiently absorbent, nearly all the ink will remain on the

84
 finger, less adhering to the paper and the print resulting will not
be sufficiently dark.

A "plain" impression is obtained by lightly pressing the inked

bulb of the finger on the paper without any turning movement.

The "rolled" impressions of the digits are recorded on the slip in

their natural order of thumb, index, middle, ring and little
finger; those of the right hand being in the line above,
immediately below them the impressions of the corresponding
digits of the left hand. It is essential to correct classification that
the digits should be printed in the above sequence. In order to
provide a check against possible mistakes the plain impressions
of four fingers of each hand will be taken simultaneously in the
spaces provided for them on the slip below the "rolled"
impressions, and must of necessity appear in their proper
sequence.

When a digit is deformed or missing and no impression of it can

be taken in the space in the slip assigned to it, this fact should
be noted.

6. Reasons for taking "rolled" prints. Though both operations present

no difficulty, taking a "plain" impression is the simpler of the two.
It may be well, therefore, to explain why a "rolled" impression is
required. Referring to figures 1 and 2, which are impressions of
the one and the same finger, it will be seen that in figure 1 the
whole contour of the pattern is not reproduced, whereas in figure
2 the whole pattern is delineated, obviously, therefore, it is easier
to determine the type of pattern from a "rolled" impression;
moreover, the greater surface of the latter enables a larger number
of points for comparison to be selected, when it is a question of
contracting the details of two prints with a view to deciding
whether they are impressions of the same or of different digits.

7. Patterns :-
Pattern is the design formed by the ridges in the finger
prints.

8. Pattern Area :-
Patterns area is that part of the pattern in which appear the
core, the delta and the ridges used for classification.

85
9. Type Line :-
Type line may be defined as the two innermost ridges which
start paralled, diverge and surround or tent to surround the pattern
area. (Figure 3)

FIG 3

10. Fixed Points :-

In impressions of the Loop, Whorl and Composite types there
are fixed points which as will hereafter appear serve several useful
purpose. The fixed points are –
11. Delta (outer terminus):-
A delta is triangular plot which may be formed either by
bifurcation of a single ridge or by the divergence of two parallel ridges,
these ridges forming the type lines.
In case of a delta formed by bifurcation of a single ridge, the
point of bifurcation forms the point of delta also known as the outer
terminus (O.T.) and when there are several such bifurcations, the one
nearest to the core is taken as the outer terminus. this is known as a
closed delta.
In case of a delta formed by divergence of two paralled
ridges, the nearest ridge in front of the place where the divergence
begins, even if it is a mere point or a connected to any of the diverging
ridges, is "outer terminus". This is known as an open delta.
Where the upper and lower sides of the "delta" are formed by
the bifurcation of a single ridge, the point of bifurcation forms the "outer
terminus", marked X in figure 4. Where there are several such
bifurcations, the one nearest the core is taken as the "outer terminus".
The upper and lower sides of the "delta" may be formed by
the abrupt divergence of two ridges which up to this point had run side
by side. The nearest ridge in front of the place where the divergence
begins, even if it be a mere point, and whether it is independent of, or
sprung from, the diverging ridges or not, is the "outer terminus" marked
Y in figure 5.

86
 X Y
X
FIG 4 FIG 5
12. Core (inner terminus) :-
Core is the innermost or central part or the heart of a
pattern and the point of core also knows as inner terminus (I.T.) is a
point in it.

The core of a loop may consist either of an even or an uneven

number of ridges termed rods not joined together at the top or may
consist of two ridges joined together at their summit termed as staple.

Where the core consists of an uneven number of rods the top

of the central rod is the "point of the core". If the core is a staple, the
shoulder of the staple which is farthest from delta is taken as the "point
of the core", the nearest shoulder counting as a separate ridge.

Where the core consists of an even number of rods, the two

central ones are considered as joined at their summit by an imaginary
neck, and , of these two, the shoulder farthest from the delta is the point
of the "core". In whorls, circular or elliptical in form the centre of the first
ring is the "point of the core". Where the whorl is spiral in form the point
from which the spiral begins to revolve is the "point of the core".

"Point of the core" is synonymous with "inner terminus". In

the above diagram the first ridge that envelopes the core is dotted.

FIG 6

Finger Print Patterns :-

87
13. Arch :-

An arch is a pattern in which the ridges run from one side to

other, slightly rising in the center, making no backward turn. There is
ordinarily no delta, but when there is the appearance of a delta, no ridge
should intervene between the delta and the core it is then called an Arch
approximating loop or a loop without count. An Arch is also known as a
pattern-less pattern. (Figure 7)

FIG7
14. Tented Arch :-
In patterns of the Arch type, the ridges near the middle may
have an upward thrust, arranging themselves as it were on both sides of
a spine or axis, towards which the adjoining ridges converge. The ridges
thus converging give the pattern the appearance of a tent in outline,
hence the name Tented Arch (Fingers 8 & 9 ). In order to demarcate
clearly the line which separates Tented Arches from those Loops whose
ridges have a more or less vertical trend, it is held that, if on either side
of the axis even one ridge recurve, the impression is a Loop (Finger 10).
The meeting of two ridges at a sharp angle resulting from their running
into each other through not maintaining their parallelism of direction is
not to be confused with recurving. The recurving ridge must be wholly on
one side of the axis.

FIG 8 FIG 9 FIG 10

Tall Loop resembling Tented Arch

88
15. Loop:-
A Loop is a pattern in which one or more ridges on either
side, take a diagonal upward course, recurve, touch or pass an
imaginary line drawn between the delta and the core, and end or tend to
end toward the same side of the pattern. There is one delta and a core
and atleast one ridge count. (Figure 11)

FIG 11 FIG 12

FIG 12A FIG 12B

In figure 12 the ridge AX bifurcates into XC and XD. XC at

first follows an upwards course, and having reached its greatest height,
trends downwards, passing away to the left side, while XD proceeds
generally in the direction followed by AX, there is one delta, namely at X.
The trend of the ridges about the core i.e. the direction from their
summit their exit between CD, is slopped from the right of the person
looking at them towards his left.
In figure 12A some of the core ridges meet an enveloping
ridge at an acute angle. In Finger 12B the summits of the ridges are
deflected slightly downwards.

16. Ulnar & Radial Loop :-

Loops are subdivided in to Ulnar and Radial Loop. A loop is
said to be Ulnar or Radial, according to whether it slopes towards the
Ulnar or Radial bone, the radius being on the thumb side and the Ulnar
on the little finger side.
In case of Ulnar loops, the ridges slant towards the right in
case of right hand fingers and towards left in case of left hand fingers.
In case of Radial loops, the ridges slant towards the left in
case of right hand fingers and towards right in case of left hand fingers.

89
 In order to distinguish between tented arches and loop
whose ridges have a vertical trend, it is stipulated that if on either side of
the axis even one ridge recurve, the impression is a loop, but if there are
recurving ridges on both sides of the axis, the impression is Tented Arch.

17. Essentials of Loops:-

One delta, one recurving ridge, atleast one ridge count
between the delta and the core.

FIG 13 FIG 14

18. Invaded Loop :- This is a loop which presents the appearance as

though a series of ridges are swarming over the pattern, coming from the
delta side and threatening to engulf it from above.

19. Crested Loop:-

This is a Loop in which the ridges swarming over the pattern
are stopped along a line which they cannot pass or are swept in the
current of normal ridges giving the appearance of a crest above the
pattern area.

20. Nutant Loop:-

When the loop has the appearance of a sickle or a drooping
flower, it is known as a Nutant Loop also known as an indented loop.

FIG 15

90
21. Whorl :-
A whorl is a pattern in which one or more ridges form a
series of circles or spirals around the core, the circling ridges should
make at least one complete circuit and there must be two deltas also.
Whorls can be single cored, double cored, elliptical, spiral or almond
shaped.

FIG 16 FIG 17 FIG 18 FIG 19

FIG 20 FIG 19 A

In Figure 20 the ridge AY bifurcates at Y, the ridge YB

making an upward turn before descending, while the ridge YC passes
away towards the right side, this bifurcation causing the appearance of a
delta at Y. On the right side of this same diagram, the ridge DZ, which
goes from right to left, bifurcates at Z, causing the appearance of a delta
there, the ridge ZE at first goes upwards before making a downward
course, while the ridge ZF, continuing in the direction of the parent ridge
DZ, passes away to the left. In figure 17 the ridges about the core are
elliptical in form. Figure 19A a double spiral. Figure 19 is that of an
impression which, for want of a better term, may be called almond-
shaped. In some patterns, the spiral appears to revolve in the same
direction as the hands of a watch, in others this revolution is in the
opposite direction, great variety is noticeable in the cores, and very many
details force themselves upon consideration when two impressions of this
type are being compared.

91
22. Composite :-

A composite is a pattern in which combination of two or

more patterns are found in the same print. These are subdivided in to
Central Pocket Loop, Lateral Pocket Loop, Twinned Loop and Accidental
Loop.

23. Central Pocket Loop: -

In patterns of loop type, the ridges immediately about

the core deviate in course from the general course of other ridges,
making a pocket at the center.

The essential conditions are a) There should be at least

one looping ridge, b) The recurve about the core should be at right angles
to the line of exit of the looping ridges, c) The line joining the deltas
should not cut any of the recurving ridges, d) There should not be more
than five recurving ridges.

A central pocket loop may be formed in the following

four different ways namely ring, spiral, hook and concave.

FIG 21 FIG 22

Plain Loop resembling Central Pocket Loop

92
 All varieties of the Central Pocket Loop type can be arranged under
one or other of the forms of core shown in Figure 23. These four
standards overlap.

FIG 23

II is obviously only a modification of I and III, a more complete form of

IV. The arrow marks the position of the axis or line of exit of the ridges.
Examining the standards, it will be noticed that this arrow, if prolonged,
would meet at least one recurving ridge at right angles. This
characteristic determines in doubtful cases whether an impression is a
Loop or Central Pocket. These standards have been adopted to guide the
eye, and because their employment often proves of assistance in at once
deciding whether an impression is or is not a Central Pocket.

24. Lateral Pocket Loop:-

When the ridges constituting the Loop bend sharply

downwards on one side before recurving, thereby forming on that side an
interspace or "pocket", ordinarily filled by the ridges of another Loop,
such impression is termed a Lateral Pocket Loop. In Figure 26 compare
1,2,4,5, the outline of the Loop, whose ridges bend down sharply, is
shown by the dotted lines. The thick dark line (a) represents its central
ridge, the dark line (b) representing the central ridge of the Loop where
ridges occupy the pocket. See also figure 24, 25 . It should be realised
that the ridges which bend downwards must be recurving, not
converging ridges – that their contour when they recurve must be
rounded not angular.

93
FIG 24 FIG 25

FIG 26

94
25. Twinned Loop:-

Referring to figure 27, it will be seen that this at first

sight complicated pattern in reality consists of two well- defined Loops,
one superincumbent on or surrounding the other. Such an impression is
termed a Twinned Loop.

FIG 27 FIG 28

Plain Loop resembling Twin Loop

Many Twinned Loops appears to be almost identical in

contour and in details of ridge grouping with Lateral Pockets. Figure 26
contains patterns which clear the distinction which exits. The dark lines
marked a, b, are the central ridges of the two Loop systems, the ridges
which contain "the point of the core". In 1,2,3,4,5, (Figure 26), these
ridges a, b have their exits on the same side of the right hand delta. In
6,7,8,9, these ridges have their exits on different sides of the right hand
delta.

The following distinction, therefore, differentiates

Lateral Pockets from Twinned Loops. In Lateral Pockets the ridge
containing the "point of the core" have their exits on the same side of
either delta, in Twinned Loop the ridges containing the "point of the core"
have their exits on different side.

26. Accidentals: -

Accidentals are combinations of two or more patterns

too irregular in outline to be grouped in any other pattern. An arch with
pocket is also included in this group.

Figure 30A might be described as an Arch with Pocket

Figure 29 at first sight appears to be a Whorl surrounded by a Loop, but
more strict examination shows that such description lacks accuracy, and
it is better therefore to group these varieties into sub-class Accidentals of
class Composites.

95
 FIG 29 FIG 30 FIG 30A

27. SUB-DIVISION OF LOOPS :-

1. As about two impressions out of every three are Loops, the Sub-
Division into Ulnar and Radial fails to split them up into groups
sufficiently small, and it is necessary, therefore, to still further
differentiate them by a method known as ridge counting. Figure
31 represents the ridges of an ordinary Loop. The line SB joins
the two terminal points, "inner" and "outer terminus". If the
ridges which are cut by the line SB are counted, they will be
found to number 17, so this Loop is specialised as a Loop with
17 ridges or counts. If it is the impression of a right hand digit it
would be also specialised as Ulnar; if of a left hand digit as a
Radial Loop.

2. In ridge counting it must be remembered that the two terminal

points are excluded from count, that ridges like G, which run
close up to without meeting the line SB, are also excluded, and
that when two ridges result from a bifurcation as at D, close to
the line SB, both are counted.

3. The number of ridges that cut in imaginary line drawn from

delta to the core, neither the delta nor the core being counted,
is known as the ridge count. If there is a bifurcation at the exact
point of coincidence, two ridges are counted. fragments and
dots are counted if they appear as thick as the neighboring
ridges. But ridges, which run close up to without meeting the
line, are not counted. Subsidiary ridges are excluded from ridge
counting and ridge tracing.

96
 FIG 31

28. SUB-DIVISION OF WHORLS :-

Whorls and Composites classed as. Whorls present such
innumerable varieties of pattern that when two Whorls are compared no
difficulty is experienced in determining whether they are impressions of
the same or different fingers. But as it is convenient to have them sub-
divided into regular groups the manner in which this is done is now
described.
29. RIDGE TRACING :-
1. The course of the lower limb of the left delta ridge of a whorl
is traced and when this meets the corresponding ridge of the
right delta, the whorl is specified as 'M' when the ridge goes
outside as 'O' and when the ridge goes inside as 'I'.
In practice, however
' I ' actually means that the left delta ridge goes inside the
right delta ridge with three or more ridges intervening.
(Figure 32)
'M' means the left delta ridge meets the right delta ridge or
goes inside or outside the right delta with less than three
intervening. (Figure 33)
'O' means the left delta ridge goes outside the right delta with
not less than three ridges intervening. (Figure 34)

97
 When the ridges whose course is being traced, stops short,
the course of the ridge next below is followed. When the ridge
bifurcates, the tracing proceeds as along the lower line of
bifurcation. The definition will be readily understood from
the drawings (Figures 32,33,34), where the ridge course
traced is marked by the arrow head.

FIG 32 FIG 33 FIG 34

30. SYMBOLS USED :-
The symbols used are A-Arch; T=Tented Arch; L=Loop;
W=Whorl; C=Composite; LP=Lateral Pocket; TL=Twinned Loop;
CP=Central Pocket; Ac=Accidental; IT=Inner Terminus; OT=Outer
Terminus; U= \ =Ulnar in right hand; R= / =Radial in right hand;
u=/=Ulnar in left hand; R= \ =Radial in left hand.
31. PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION :-
In round numbers about 5 percent of impressions are
Arches, 60 percent. Loops, and 35 percent. Whorls and Composites, the
proportion varying in the several digits, but the relative preponderance of
Loops and Whorls being maintained.

Arches, therefore, in primary classification are included

under Loops, and Composites under Whorls. For the purpose of primary
classification, therefore, an impression must be either a Loop or a Whorl.
The classification number of slip is found as follows. After each finger
print has been marked "Loop" or "Whorl" as the case may be, the ten
digits are taken in pairs in the following order :- (1) Right Thumb
and Right Index = First Pair

(2) Right Middle and Right Ring = Second Pair

(3) Right Little and Left Thumb = Third Pair

(4) Left Index and Left Middle = Fourth Pair

(5) Left Ring and Left Little = Fifth Pair

98
Right Index Right Ring Left Middle Left Little Left Thumb

Right Thumb Right Middle Right Little Left Index Left Ring

When a Whorl occurs in the first pair its numerical values

16, in the second pair 8, in the third pair 4, in the fourth pair 2 and in
the fifth pair 1, Loops have no numerical value. Give these values. Add
all the numerators together for a new numerator and all denominators
together for a new denominator. Add 1 to the numerator and also to the
denominator of this fraction. 1 The fraction how obtained is
the classification number and indicates that the slip is to be placed in
the pigeon hole bearing that number.

The classification number is written at the top of the slip.

Illustration :-

Given to the Finger Print can be expressed by some such

formula as the following :-

W L L W W

L W L W L

Substituting values for W and L we get

16 0 0 2 1

0 8 0 2 0

By adding the numerators together and the denominators

together we get the fraction 19 by adding 1 to the numerator and also
to the denominator we obtain the fraction 20 which 10
1
11

is the Primary Classification Number. Primary Classification Number

would thus be 1 to 32
1 to 32

or 1024 Pigeon holes. 1 added in every pigeon hole to avoid Zero and
1 Zero

also complete the 1024 Pigeon holes.

99
32. SLIPS KEPT FILES :-

To protect the slips they are kept according to their classes,

arranged between cardboards, each such collection being a file. When
the accumulations in several collections having the same denominator
are relatively small, they may be kept in one file, arranged amongst
themselves, according to their numerator numbers. Thus in a moderate
sized record, the accumulations in all the pigeon - holes of the 11th
horizontal row might be kept in one file, which would be labeled
1-32

11

each of the slips contained in it having its correct Classification number

and classification lettering legibly noted on it in pencil, so that should a
slip get out of place, it can be put back. When, however, the
accumulation under a particular classification number as 1 is very
1

large, it becomes necessary to have separate files for each of the sub-
classes.

33. SECONDARY OR SUB-CLASSIFICATION :-

Owing to the occurrence under certain primary classification

numbers of large accumulations, secondary or sub-classification is
required to break them up into groups of convenient size. For this, as will
now be described, recourse is had to one or more of the following
methods :-

(1) By examination of fingers for those types of Loops that

are of comparatively infrequent occurrence (that is.
Arches, Tented Arches, Radial Loops).
(2) By ridge counting.
(3) By ridge tracing.
As has been previously stated, the fingers are impressed in
their natural sequence, thumb first, then the index, middle, ring, and
little finger; those of the right hand being above and immediately below
each of its digits the corresponding digit of left hand. The index finger of
each hand is taken as a fulcrum; the mark specializing it being the
capital letter of its symbol; the mark specializing the thumb being the
small letter of its symbol placed to the left of the fulcrum; the marks
specializing the remaining fingers being the small letters of their symbols
to the right of the fulcrum. Arches, Tented Arches and Radial Loops being
of relatively infrequent occurrence are utilised in sub-dividing, and their
presence is invariably noted in the sub-classification formula. This

100
formula is in the form of numerator and denominator, the numerator
referring to the right, the denominator to the left hand.
Formula 1 aA-r indicate that the slip containing the

1 rRta

impressions will be found under classification number 1 and will then

1
be found included in the collection specialized by having an Arch in the
right thumb, an Arch in the right index and a Radial Loop in the right
ring finger, while the left thumb and index are Radial Loops, left middle a
Tented Arch, and left ring an Arch.
Arches, Tented Arches, Radial and Ulnar Loops may occur in
one or both index fingers in 16 combinations, and where they occur they
provide for the formulation of 16 sub-classes, thus :-
A T R U

The letters arranged horizontally refer to the right, those

vertically to the left index.

Under sub-class A will be found accumulated the slips with an

A
Arch in both index fingers; under A those with an Arch in
the right, and a Tented T

Arch in the left index; under A those with an Arch in the

right, and Radial loop in the left index; under U R
A

those with an Arch in the right and Ulnar Loop in the left index. Similarly
there are subclasses : -

T T T T R R R R U U U U
A T R U A T R U A T R U

101
 In these 16 above mentioned sub-classes as Arches, Tented
Arches, Radials or Ulnar Loops, may occur in one or two, three, four or
five fingers, the number of groups created by utilising them, may be thus
exhibited: -

No. Thumb Index Middle) Ring Little Arches, Tented Arches,

1 a A — and Radial Loops, in this
chart, are represented by the
2 a A a — —
letter A in the index finger
3 a A a a — and by a in the other fingers.
4 a A a — a Ulnar Loops are represented
5 a A a a a by the letter U in the index
6 a A — a —. finger, and by symbol '—' in
7 a A — a a the other fingers.
8 a A — — a
1' — A — — This will show that in
2' — A a — — the first two combinations an
index finger is either Arch,
3' — A a a —
Tented Arch, or a Radial
4' — A a — a
Loop, but in the other two
5' — A a a a
combinations only an Ulnar
6' — A — a —
Loop. This diagram will show
7' — A — a a that in one special sub-class,
8' — A — — a for one hand 16 different
1" a U — — -- groups are exhibited, and
2" a U a — there will be a like number of
3" a U a a -- groups for the fingers of the
4" a U a — a other hand, and as both
5" a U a a a hands are utilised in splitting
6" a U — a — up a sub-class, the total
7" a U — a a number that may be created
8" a U — — a by this device is 16x16=256
1'" -- U — — -- In sub-class U although
2'" — U, a — --
3"' — U a a -- U
4— — U a — a
both index fingers are Ulnar
5- — U a a a Loops, Arches or Radial
6"' — U — a -- Loops may occur in the
7'" — U — a a remaining digits as
8'" -- U -- a represented in the second
half of the diagram.

To make the arrangement easy, a numeral value has been given to

each combination as shown in column 1 of the diagram.

102
 A few combinations in sub-class A are given below:-
A

A , A , Aa , Aaa
aA A A Aa

Their, numerical value according to the chart will be 1' , 1' , 2'
, 3' and these will be
1’ 1' 1'
2'
arranged according to the order given herein.

When Tented Arches take the place of Arches, they will be

arranged immediately below the group of slips containing Arches. When
Radial Loops occur they are disposed immediately below the group
containing Tented Arches. Last arranged are the Ulnar Loops.

103
34. SUB-CLASSIFICATION:-
The primary classification has been found sufficient for all
except 186 pigeon-holes. In these there are one or more files which
require sub-arranging. A chart called the sub-classification chart has
been prepared to show which these pigeon-holes are, and which the files
in them are that require to be sub-classified. The way to use the chart is
to find the classification number, and the primary arrangement number
of the slip in the ordinary way, and then to refer to the chart. If the
classification number indicates a lettered pigeon-hole the letter refers to
the file or files in that pigeon-hole which requires sub-classification;
compare has primary arrangement number of the slip with the primary
arrangement numbers given against the letter, and if it be one of them
find the sub-arrangement number of the slip in the manner therein
ordered. If the classification number does not indicate a lettered pigeon-
hole, no further sub-classification is necessary, but in those cases where
the index fingers are either Loops or Whorls, the result of the ridge
counting or ridge tracing of the index fingers, as the case may be, should
be given as described in the notes to the chart.

35. The secondary classification with the exception of a few of

the heaviest pigeon-holes is arrived at by either counting or by tracing
ridges, as the case may be, in both the index and middle fingers. The
result of such counts or traces is shown alongside classification number
in pairs, that is, right index and middle fingers forming the numerator,
left index and middle the denominator, these groups are termed files. To
further split up these files the ridge counting of little fingers or the
tracing of the ridges in the ring finger is taken into consideration, as fully
explained in the chart.

36. To find out the ridge counting, the number of ridges, in the
index and middle fingers of both hands, which intervene between the
inner and outer terminus, is counted with the aid of a reading glass and
a pointer. Trials made with many thousand impressions yield the
following results: in the index finger the number of impressions which
have from 1 to 9 ridges between the "inner and outer terminus" (both
these fixed points being excluded from count) equals the number of
impressions, with ten or more than ten ridges. In the middle finger, the
number of impressions from one to ten ridges equals the number with
eleven or more.

The lower limit is called I, and the higher limit O, and the
result of ridge counting in the files is shown by means of these letters.

Suppose in pigeon-hole 9 U the count of ridges in right

1 U

104
index is 8, right middle 12, left index 10 and left middle finger 7, this will
be read as 9 U IO and if the count in little fingers be necessary, and
1 U OI

supposing it is 9 in right little and 10 in left little, these will be shown

alongside the above stated formulae in the following way :—

9 U IO 9
1 U OI 10

37. But in those cases where both index and both middle fingers
are Whorls, the result of ridge tracing is shown by a numerical fraction,
as given in diagram 3, of the chart.

38. In the Phillaur record the following four pigeon-holes and

files are the heaviest:—

1 , U , 31 , 31 , 32
1 U 28 32 32
39. To ascertain sub-classification number in 1 U count
1 U
ridges in both index, both middle, both ring, and both little fingers. If the
count in the index is 9 or below, it is distinguished by letter I, if it is 10
or over by O. In middle fingers if the count of ridges is 10 or below,
distinguish it with I, and if 11 or over by O,
Count in the ring fingers is divided into three parts as
follows:—
If the count is 8 or below, distinguish it with the letter 1,
from 9 to 13 with the letter M, 14 or above by the letter O. When the
counts of these fingers have been determined in the form stated above,
then apply the formula (1), page ____, and write the result alongside the
primary number, right hand fingers forming the numerator, and those of
left hand the denominator. Count of little fingers is written after this.
Thus in 1 U , if the result of ridge counts in the index,
1 U
middle and ring fingers in the right hand is I, O and M, and I, O and I
the left hand fingers, and the counts of both the little fingers are 10 and
12, then, on consulting the formula, it will be found that the file 1,0, M is
represented by 5 and I, 0,1 by 4. The arrangement number will be noted
as follows :—
1 U 5 10
1 U 4 12

105
40. To ascertain sub-classification number in 31 trace ridges
28
in both index, both middle, both ring fingers and count ridges in right
little finger. When the result of ridge tracing in these fingers has been
determined, apply the formula (2), page ____, and write the result
alongside the primary number, right hand fingers forming the
numerator, and those of the left hand denominator. Count of little finger
is written after this. Supposing in 31 the result of ridge tracing of the
28
index, middle and ring fingers is I, M and I, respectively, in the right
hand, I, O and I, in the left hand, and number of counts in right little is
15, then the application of the formula it will be found that the file I, M,
I is represented by 4, and I, O,1 is represented by 7, and the
arrangement number will be noted as —
31 4 15
28 7
To find out the sub-classification number in 31/32 and
32/32 in addition to all the 6 fingers, the right little finger is also traced
and the result arrived at is

32 4 O
32 7

106
 Plate-1

EXPLANATION
The impressions of the ten digits are taken in pairs in the
following order—
(1) Right thumb and Right Index; (2) Right Middle and Right
Ring (3) Right Little and Left Thumb (4) Left Index and Left
Middle (5)Left Ring and Left Little All impressions are held to
be divisible into 2 types, Loops-(which include Arches) and
Whorls. Given ten impressions in the above order, they can
be expressed by some such formula as the following:-

107
 LW-WL-LL-WW-LW where L=Loop, W=Whorl The key
LL indicates the one pigeon-hole out of the 1024 of the
LW Bureau where a slip with the above formula will be
found. Referring to the Key, LW is in top right hand

WL
WW square, therefore; we proceed to square defined by The
broad continuous lines, and by the horizontal numbers
17 to 32 and vertical 1 to 16. Taking the next pair WL we see from the
key that it is in bottom left square 17-32 , i.e in the square
1-16 .
defined by continuous and broken broad lines and by horizontal figures
17-24 and vertical 9-16. The next pair LL is in left top corner of this
17-27 square, i.e., in the square in the square defined by one broad
9-16 continuous, one broad broken, and two medium continuous lines,
and-by horizontal figures 17—20 and vertical 9-12. The next pair WW is
in the right hand bottom cornor of this 17-20 square, i.e., in square
marked by two broken and two. 9-12
continuous lines and by horizontal figures 19-20 and vertical 11-12.
Finally, the last pair LW is in the top right hand corner of this 19-20
11-12
square, i.e., is in pigeon hole 20 . Any other combination of impressions
11
can be similarly located.

108
PLATE NO. II SUB ARRANGEMENT CHART SHOWING PIGEON HOLES
REQUIRING SUB ARRANGING

109
 PLATE NO. III KEY TO SUB ARRANGEMENT CHART

1. In all combinations other than already specified in the chart

in which both index fingers are Loops, both fingers are to be
counted, thus : 1 U 12 in which both index fingers
6 U 10

are Whorls they are to be traced, thus : 21 I.

23 O
2. If one finger is a Whorl and the other is a Loop, the Whorl is
to be traced and the Loop counted. Similarly if one finger is a
Whorl and the other Arch, the Whorl is to be traced and the
other finger being shows, thus : 1 or I
1 T

110
 3. When one digit is deformed or missing sub-classification
should be made according to the corresponding digit of the
other hand. If the same digit of both the hands y missing the
impressions are supposed to be whorls and, M/M as the
result of ridge tracing.
4. If both or either of the deltas are missing in a Whorl and it is
impossible to decide with certainty whether it is I, M or O, it
is taken as M.
5. Compound patterns.
When the impression is W/ by L the deltas of the Whorls are
to be traced and the delta of the Loop is to be ignored, when
the impression is L by W the central and right deltas are to
be traced and left delta of the Loop being left out.

In W by W the deltas of the central Whorls are to be taken.

6. Index fingers where the impression is Loop the counts of 9 or

below 9 are to be distinguished with letter I and the counts
of 10 and upwards by letter 0. In middle fingers where the
impression is Loop the counts of 10 or below 10 are to be
distinguished with letter I and counts of 11 and upwards by
letter O.
In diagram 1 index and middle fingers are to be
distinguished as above and the ring finger as follows :—
If the count of ridges in the ring finger is 8 or under,
distinguish it with letter I, if from 9 to 13 distinguish it with
letter M and if 14 or upwards by letter O.
DIAGRAMS 1 (LOOPS)
III IIM IIO IOI IOM IOO OII OIM OIO OOI OOM OOO
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
DIAGRAMS 2 (WHORLS IN TRIPLICATE)
II II II IM IM IM IO IO IO MI MI MI MM MM
I M O I M O I M O I M O I M
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

MM MO MO MO OI OI OI OM OM OM OO OO OO
O I M O I M O I M O I M O
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
DIAGRAMS 3 (WHORLS IN PAIRS)
II IM IO MI MM MO OI OM OO
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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 The ridges systems which exist on the palmer or front
surfaces of the end phalanges of the fingers and thumbs assume a
variety of forms in regard to their general pattern and also in their finer
details called "ridge characteristics". These are possessed in greater or
less number by all finger impressions, but identical sequence of these
characteristics has never been found to exist in impressions of different
fingers. They are also found to persist throughout life.

It is solely upon the ridge characteristics and the sequence

or order in which they occur that identification is based. If a sufficient
number of them are found to exist in the same corresponding places in
the two impressions which are being compared, it can be said without
doubt that the impressions were made by the same thenar or plantar
surface.
The ridge characteristics or finer details, as they are called
include "forks" or "bifurcations", "ridge terminations" "island" and "lakes",
as illustrated in the following sketch :—

Explanation

'A' is a ridge terminating in a downward direction.

'B' is a ridge terminating in an upward direction.
'C" is a ridge bifurcating downwards.
'D' is a ridge bifurcating upwards.
'E' is a short independent ridge ("island").
F' is an enclosure ("lake").

Signature
Date: (Name in capital letters)
Place: Designation

112