LIP-PRINTS – EVIDENCE LOST TO IMPERTINENCE

PANKAJ CHHIKARA; ABHISHEK SINGH

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2022.v15i10.45577

Authors

PANKAJ CHHIKARA Department of Forensic Medicine, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
ABHISHEK SINGH Department of SPM, SHKMGMC, Mewat, Haryana, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8310-5996

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2022.v15i10.45577

Keywords:

Identification, Lip-prints, Cheiloscopy

Abstract

Objective: Identity means determination of individuality of a person beyond doubt, based on physical characteristics unique to an individual. Article-6 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has a right to identity as a person. The wrinkles and grooves on labial mucosa called form a characteristic pattern and the study of these is referred to as cheiloscopy. These are unique to an individual just like the fingerprints thus, hold the potential for identification purpose. This study was designed to evaluate lip-prints as a tool of forensic identification.

Methods: The study was done in North Haryana on 1000 subjects aged between 15 and 25 years over a period of 2 years. Purposive sampling was done and subjects were asked to produce lip prints on bond paper, which were examined based on Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification. Data obtained were analyzed using Student’s t-test.

Results: It was found that no two individuals had similar lip prints. Type I pattern was most common followed by Type II whereas Type V was least common.

Conclusion: However, till date, no reliable system with repeatability has been developed for studying lip-prints especially to remove observer bias. Nor any comprehensive studies are available comparing lip-prints in live and dead subjects to authenticate their forensic identification potential, raising question at forethought and purpose of practical application of research in the field of cheiloscopy.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

ABHISHEK SINGH, Department of SPM, SHKMGMC, Mewat, Haryana, India.

Associate Professor,

Department of SPM, SHKM GMC, Mewat, Haryana

References

Modi JP. Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology. 23rd ed. New Delhi: LexisNexis Butterworths Publications; 2005. p. 263.

Parikh CK. Parikh’s Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 6th ed. Delhi: CBS Publishers and Distributors; 2004. p. 2.1-2.

William TR. Lip-prints: Another means of identification. J Forensic Ident 1991;41:190-4.

Synder LM. Textbook of Homicide Investigation: Identification of Dead Bodies. 1950.

Utsuno H, Kanoh T, Tadokoro O, Inoue K. Preliminary study of post mortem identification using lip prints. Forensic Sci Int 2005;149:129-32. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.05.013, PMID 15749352

Tsuchihashi Y. Studies on personal identification by means of lip prints. Forensic Sci Int 1974;3:233-48. doi: 10.1016/0300- 9432(74)90034-X

Pillay VV. Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 19th ed. Hyderabad: Paras Medical Publisher; 2020. p. 77.

Suzuki K, Tsuchihashi Y. New attempt of personal identification by means of lip print. J Indian Dent Assoc 1970;42:8-9. doi: 10.1080/00085030.1971.10757287, PMID 5269498

Kasprzak J. Possibilities of cheiloscopy. Forensic Sci Int 1990;46:145-51. doi: 10.1016/0379-0738(90)90154-Q

Vahanwala SP, Parekh BK. Study of lip-prints as an aid to forensic methodology. J Indian Dent Assoc 2000;71:12-8

Mishra G, Ranganathan K, Saraswathi TR. Study of lip prints. J Forensic Dent Sci 2009;1:28-31. doi: 10.4103/0974-2948.50885

Gopichand PV, Kaushal S, Kaur G. Personal identification using lip-prints-a study in 500 Punjabi females. J Indo Pacific Acad Forensic Odontol 2010;1:20-2.

Augustine J, Barpande SR, Tupkari JV. Cheiloscopy as an adjunct to forensic identification: A study of 600 individuals. J Forensic Odontostomatol 2008;26:44-52. PMID 22717789

Gondivkar SM, Indurkar A, Degwekar S, Bhowate R. Cheiloscopy for sex determination. J Forensic Dent Sci 2009;1:56-60. doi: 10.4103/0974- 2948.60374

Patel S, Paul I, Madhusudan AS, Ramesh G, Sowmya GV. A study of lip-prints in relation to gender, family and blood group. Int J Oral Maxillofac Pathol 2010;1:4-7.

Gopichand PV, Kaushal S, Kaur G. Personal identification using Lip-prints-a study in 500 Punjabi females. J Indo-Pacific Acad Forensic Odontol 2010;1:11-7.

Caldas IM, Magalhães T, Afonso A. Establishing identity using cheiloscopy and palatoscopy. Forensic Sci Int 2007;165:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.04.010, PMID 16725290