Yes, a criminal court in Delhi can generally compel an accused to provide handwriting or voice samples, since the Supreme Court has clarified that such samples, unlike testimonial statements that could directly incriminate through their content, are considered physical or identification evidence that does not violate the constitutional protection against self-incrimination under Article 20(3), because providing a sample does not itself constitute testimonial communication of guilt.

Section 349 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (corresponding to the earlier Section 311A of the Code of Criminal Procedure) specifically empowers a Magistrate to order any person, including an accused, to provide specimen signatures, handwriting samples, or other physical specimens for the purpose of comparison during investigation, recognising that such identification evidence serves a legitimate investigative purpose distinct from compelling potentially self-incriminating verbal admissions.

The rationale distinguishing these physical samples from protected testimonial evidence is that a handwriting or voice sample, by itself, is merely a physical characteristic used for comparison purposes, similar to fingerprints, and does not require the accused to communicate any specific knowledge or admission of guilt, meaning compelling such samples does not force the accused to be a witness against themselves in the constitutionally protected sense, even though the ultimate comparison results might indeed prove relevant to establishing guilt.

If you have been directed to provide handwriting or voice samples in your Delhi criminal case and have concerns about this requirement, it is important to consult experienced criminal defence counsel who can advise you on the specific legal framework governing such orders and any procedural safeguards that should be observed in obtaining these samples. Consulting the team at Aapka Legal Advice can help you understand your rights and obligations if directed to provide such samples in your Delhi criminal matter.

Given the specific constitutional and procedural nuances governing sample collection, obtaining a second opinion from a retired judge on whether the specific request in your case is being properly conducted according to legal requirements can provide valuable additional assurance. Delhi's experienced criminal lawyers and retired judges, available through Aapka Legal Advice's Delhi criminal lawyer directory, regularly advise clients on these evidentiary matters.

In conclusion, criminal courts in Delhi can indeed compel an accused to provide handwriting or voice samples, since these are treated as identification evidence rather than protected testimonial communication, though ensuring the process follows proper legal procedure remains important.