Sanhita.ai

Code of Criminal Procedure

(CRPC)

Inquiry by Magistrate into cause of death.

Chapter 12: Information To The Police And Their Powers To Investigate

Section: 176

(1)[* * *] [Substituted by Act 46 of 1983, Section 4 for "When any person dies while in the custody of the police" (w.e.f. 25-12-1983).]When the case is of the nature referred to in clause (i) or clause (ii) of sub-section (3) of section 174] [Substituted by Act 46 of 1983, Section 3, for "When there is any doubt regarding the cause of death, or when for any other reason the police officer consider it expedient so to do, he shall" (w.e.f. 25-12-1983).], the nearest Magistrate empowered to hold inquests shall, and in any other case mentioned in sub-section (1) of section 174, any Magistrate so empowered may hold an inquiry into the cause of death either instead of, or in addition to, the investigation held by the police officer; and if he does so, he shall have all the powers in conducting it which he would have in holding an inquiry into an offence.[(1-A) Where -

(a)any person dies or disappears, or

(b)rape is alleged to have been committed on any woman.

while such person or woman is in the custody of the police or in any other custody authorised by the Magistrate or the Court, under this Code, in addition to the inquiry or investigation held by the police, an inquiry shall be held by the Judicial Magistrate or the Metropolitan as the case may be, within whose local jurisdiction the offence has been committed.] [Inserted by Act 25 of 2005, Section 18 (w.e.f. 23-6-2006).]

(2)The Magistrate holding such an inquiry shall record the evidence taken by him in connection therewith in any manner hereinafter prescribed according to the circumstances of the case.

(3)Whenever such Magistrate considers it expedient to make an examination of the dead body of any person who has been already interred, in order to discover the cause of his death, the Magistrate may cause the body to be disinterred and examined.

(4)Where an enquiry is to be held under this section, the Magistrate shall, wherever practicable, inform the relatives of the deceased whose names and addresses are known, and shall allow them to remain present at the inquiry.

(5)[ The Judicial Magistrate or the Metropolitan Magistrate or Executive Magistrate or police officer holding an inquiry or investigation, as the case may be, under sub-Section (1-A) shall, within twenty-four hours of the death of a person, 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, unless it is not possible to do so for reasons to be recorded in writing.] [Inserted by Act 25 of 2005, Section 18 (w.e.f. 23-6-2006).]Explanation. - In this section, the expression "relative" means parents, children, brothers, sisters and spouse.

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