RESUMEN
In India, accidental poisoning due to ingestion of plant seeds is common among children, especially under 12 years of age. It varies from relatively mild poisoning to fatal poisoning. Since unripe fruits of Yellow Oleander (Cerbera thevetia; Thevetia peruviana) resemble the fruits of Jatropha curcas, and symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain are common to both when ingested, differentiating the two is occasionally difficult. In this paper, the authors share their experience of a mass poisoning with Jatropha curcas that was initially mistaken to be due to Cerbera thevetia.
RESUMEN
This paper deliberates on the legal admissibility criteria and competence of scientific evidence and expert opinion in the courts of America and its use in Indian law. A review of important events in American law in this regard, especially the Daubert Guidelines is presented. This is followed by a review of the applicable section of the Indian Evidence Act. Finally, it concludes that although there is usually no problem in admissibility of scientific evidence in Indian Courts, in case of doubt, the Daubert Guidelines can be followed. But quality control and standards for scientific evidence have to be set, to avoid discrepancies in the Court of Law.