The current study was done to assess dermatoglyphic patterns in children with non syndromic cleft lip and palate and to determine usefulness of dermatoglyphics in studying genetic etiology of cleft lip and palate anomalies. 60 children aged 5–15 years, were divided into two groups of 30 children each consisting of non–syndromic cases of cleft lip and palate and normal, healthy children. Finger and palm prints were recorded using ‘ink and stamp’ method and evaluated for presence of arches, whorls and loops along with angle ‘atd’, ‘tab and ‘a–b’ ridge count. No statistically significant difference was found between two groups for dermatoglyphic patterns, angle ‘tab’ and ‘a–b’ ridge count on right and left hands but mean values of ‘atd’ angles in both groups significantly differed. Although there were slight differences in dermatoglyphic peculiarities of patients with oral clefts and normal children, most of palm and fingerprint characteristics failed to indicate any significant differences.