- 25-Apr-2025
- Healthcare and Medical Malpractice
(1) When the officer in charge of a police station or some other police officer specially empowered by the State Government in that behalf receives information that a person has committed suicide, or has been killed by another or by an animal or by machinery or by an accident, or has died under circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person has committed an offence, he shall immediately give intimation thereof to the nearest Executive Magistrate empowered to hold inquests, and, unless otherwise directed by any rule made by the State Government, or by any general or special order of the District or Sub-divisional Magistrate, shall proceed to the place where the body of such deceased person is, and there, in the presence of two or more respectable inhabitants of the neighbourhood, shall make an investigation, and draw up a report of the apparent cause of death, describing such wounds, fractures, bruises, and other marks of injury as may be found on the body, and stating in what manner, or by what weapon or instrument (if any) such marks appear to have been inflicted.
(2) The report shall be signed by such police officer and other persons, or by so many of them as concur therein, and shall be forwarded to the District Magistrate or the Sub-divisional Magistrate within twenty-four hours.
(3) When—
(i) the case involves suicide by a woman within seven years of her marriage; or
(ii) the case relates to the death of a woman within seven years of her marriage in any circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person committed an offence in relation to such woman; or
(iii) the case relates to the death of a woman within seven years of her marriage and any relative of the woman has made a request in this behalf; or
(iv) there is any doubt regarding the cause of death; or
(v) the police officer for any other reason considers it expedient so to do,
he shall, subject to such rules as the State Government may prescribe in this behalf, forward the body, with a view to its being examined, to the nearest Civil Surgeon, or other qualified medical person appointed in this behalf by the State Government, if the state of the weather and the distance admit of its being so forwarded without risk of such putrefaction on the road as would render such examination useless.
(4) The following Magistrates are empowered to hold inquests, namely, any District Magistrate or Sub-divisional Magistrate and any other Executive Magistrate specially empowered in this behalf by the State Government or the District Magistrate.
This section outlines the responsibilities of police officers regarding inquiries into deaths, particularly in cases of suspected suicide or homicide. It mandates immediate notification to the Executive Magistrate, detailed investigation and reporting procedures, and guidelines for the examination of bodies, especially in cases involving women within seven years of marriage.
The officer must notify the nearest Executive Magistrate and investigate the circumstances of the death.
The report must describe the apparent cause of death, including details of any injuries found on the body.
If the case involves a woman’s suicide within seven years of marriage, or if there are suspicious circumstances surrounding a woman’s death within that timeframe, among other reasons.
If a police officer receives a report of a woman who died under suspicious circumstances within seven years of her marriage, they must notify the Executive Magistrate, investigate the scene, and if necessary, forward the body for medical examination.
Section 194 establishes a clear protocol for police inquiries into deaths, ensuring prompt action, thorough investigation, and proper reporting to ensure transparency and accountability in cases of suspected suicides or homicides.
Answer By Law4u Team
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