Report No. 25

5. Existing law.-

Before discussing the problem posed before us, we may set out the provisions of the existing section 510 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which is in the following terms:-

"510. (1) Report of the Chemical Examiner.-Any document purporting to be a report under the hand of any Chemical Examiner or Assistant Chemical Examiner to Government or the Chief Inspector of Explosives or the Director of Finger Print Bureau or an officer of the Mint, upon any matter or thing duly submitted to him for examination or analysis and report in the course of any proceeding under this Code, may be used as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code.

(2) The Court may, if it thinks fit, and shall, on the application of the prosecution or the accused, summon and examine any such person as to the subject-matter of his report.".