*Department of Forensic Medicine, Sri Devaraja Urs Medical College, Tamaka, Kolar, 563101, Karnataka.
**Department of Forensic Medicine, SS Institute of Medical Science, Davanagere, 577005, Karnataka.
***Department of Forensic Medicine, MVJ Medical College, Hoskote, Bangalore, Karnataka
Identification of an individual is important in any medico legal matter or investigation. In the present study, the lip prints of 300 subjects [173 males and 127 females] belonging to south Indian population were studied by obtaining a thin smear of the prints and visualizing by the finger print powder (black). Individualistic nature and permanence of the lip prints was observed in the present study. Predominance of various types of lip print patterns in the four quadrants among the subjects are presented and evaluated. The results obtained by matching the prints obtained at follow up studies by using COREL-DRAW software has been excellent, which can be used to match the test prints with prints obtained at the scene of crime. The methodology used for recording and studying the prints is easy, economical and convenient. No specialized equipment or training is required to use this method. It was concluded in this study that no two individuals had same type of print patterns, even by considering the middle 5mm of each quadrant of the prints as evident from the study.
