  The rare-earth chromates (RECrO$_3$) and manganites (REMnO$_3$) where, RE =
Eu, Y, Dy, Ho, Gd are constantly under scrutiny in search of room temperature
magnetoelectric multiferroics. However, the artefacts and undesirable signal in
some of the measurements pose a severe challenge in confirming the
ferroelectric (FE) phase, especially in reference to pyroelectric current
measurement technique. In this regard, we propose a simple modified approach to
pyroelectric current measurement named as 4-segment thermal cycling protocol.
This protocol assists in isolating the elusive, irreversible thermally
stimulated current from the currents associated with spontaneous and reversible
nature of the electric polarization in FE phase. In order to explain working
principle of the protocol, we have compared simulated response of two
hypothetical materials; an FE material free of space charges and a paraelectric
material possessing only space charges. Further, we experimentally verify these
new protocols in a single crystal of prototype ferroelectric material, Glycine
Phosphite. This report primarily focuses on detailed investigation of
ferroelectricity using the proposed protocol in two polycrystalline materials,
HoCrO$_3$ and DyFe$_{0.5}$Mn$_{0.5}$O$_3$ where, the former has been reported
to be multiferroic earlier. Our elaborative and careful approach to
pyroelectric studies expound on the absence of reversible spontaneous electric
polarization at temperature ranges tested in both, HoCrO$_3$ and
DyFe$_{0.5}$Mn$_{0.5}$O$_3$.
