law commission report no. 206- proposal for enactment of new coroners act applicable to the whole of...

8/18/2019 Law Commission Report No. 206- Proposal for Enactment of New Coroners Act Applicable to the Whole of India

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

LAW COMMISSION

OF

INDIA

Proposal for enactment of new Coroners Act applca!le tot"e w"ole of In#a$

Report No$%&'

()NE %&&*


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T+E LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA

,REPORT NO$ %&'-

Proposal for enactment of new Coroners Act applca!le to

t"e w"ole of In#a$

Presente# to t"e )non Mnster for Law an# (.stce/

Mnstr0 of Law an# (.stce/ Go1ernment of In#a !0 Dr$

(.stce AR$ La2s"manan/ C"arman/ Law Commsson of

In#a/ on t"e 3&t" #a0 of (.ne/ %&&*$

2


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T"e 3*t" Law Commsson was constt.te# for a pero# of

t"ree 0ears from 3st Septem!er/ %&&' !0 Or#er No$

A$45&3%636%&&'7A#mn$III,LA-/ #ate# t"e 3't" Octo!er/

%&&' of Go1ernment of In#a/ Mnstr0 of Law an#

(.stce/ Department of Le8al Affars/ New Del"$

T"e Law Commsson conssts of t"e C"arman/ t"e

Mem!er7Secretar0/ one f.ll7tme Mem!er an# s9 part7

tme Mem!ers$

C"arman

T"e +on:!le Dr$ (.stce AR$ La2s"manan

Mem!er7Secretar0

Dr$ D$P$ S"arma

F.ll7tme Mem!er

Prof$ Dr$ Ta"r Ma"moo#

Part7tme Mem!ers

S"r (.stce I$ Ven2atanara0ana

S"r O$P$ S"arma

Dr$ ;$N$ C"an#rase2"aran Plla

Dr$ Mrs$ De1n#er ;.mar Ra"e


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%n# Floor/ ="a8wan#as Roa#/

New Del"733& &&3$

Law Commsson Staff

Dr$ D$P$ S"arma/ Mem!er7Secretar0

Dr$ =ra"m A8rawal/ A##tonal Secretar0

Researc" Staff

Ms$ Pawan S"arma > A##l$ Law Offcer

S"r ($T$ S.la9an Rao > A##l$ Law Offcer

S"r Sarwan ;.mar > Dep.t0 Law Offcer

S"r A$;$ )pa#"0a0 > Dep.t0 Law Offcer

Dr$ V$;$ Sn8" > Assstant Law Offcer

S"r C$ Ra#"a ;rs"na > Assstant Law Offcer

A#mnstraton Staff

S"r D$ C"o.#".r0 > )n#er Secretar0

S"r S$;$ =as. > Secton Offcer

Smt$ Ra


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T"e te9t of t"s Report s a1ala!le on t"e nternet at>

"ttp>66www$lawcommssonofn#a$nc$n

@ Go1ernment Cop0r8"t %&&*Law Commsson of In#a

Go1ernment of In#a

Mnstr0 of Law an# (.stce

Department of Le8al Affars

New Del"733& &&3

In#a

T"e te9t n t"s #oc.ment ,e9cl.#n8 Go1ernment Lo8os-

ma0 !e repro#.ce# free of c"ar8e n an0 format or

me#.m pro1#n8 t"at t s repro#.ce# acc.ratel0 an#

not .se# n a mslea#n8 conte9t$ T"e materal m.st !e

ac2nowle#8e# as Go1ernment cop0r8"t an# t"e ttle of

t"e #oc.ment specfe#$

An0 en.res relatn8 to t"s Report s"o.l# !e a##resse#

to t"e Mem!er7Secretar0/ Law Commsson of In#a/ %n#

Floor/ ILI =.l#n8/ ="a8wan#as Roa#/ New Del"7

33&&&3/ In#a$ Fa9> B37337%***& or E7Mal at>

#r$#ps"armanc$n

Dr. Justice AR. Lakshmanan ILI Building (IInd Floor)(Former Judge !u"reme #ourt o$ India) Bhag%andas Road

&


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#hairman La% #ommission o$ India 'e% Delhi* ** +el., -23344/& Fa0, -2333&14

DO No$' ,-636%&&7LC,LS- 3&t" (.ne/ %&&*

Dear Dr$ ="ar#wa< Proposal for enactment of new Coroners Act

applca!le to t"e w"ole of In#a$

I am forwar#n8 "erewt" t"e %&'t" Report of t"e

Law Commsson of In#a on Proposal for enactment of

new Coroners Act applca!le to t"e w"ole of In#a$

T"e Del" +8" Co.rt n Wrt Petton ,C-

No$'3B6%&& !etween Socal (.rst/ a C1l R8"ts Gro.p

Vs$ )non of In#a "a# recommen#e# to t"e Law

Commsson of In#a to e9amne w"et"er a le8slaton l2e

t"e Coroners Act/ 3B** pre1alent n t"e )nte# ;n8#oms nee#e# n t"s co.ntr0 an# w"et"er a s.ta!le proposal

for t"s p.rpose co.l# !e ma#e to t"e Parlament n t"s

re8ar#$

In 1ew of t"s/ t"e Commsson .n#ertoo2 t"s

st.#0$ It e9amne# t"e Coroners Act/ 3B** ,);-/ t"e

e9stn8 Coroners Act/ 3*3 w"c" was a Central Act !.t

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Res#ence, 'o.Jan"ath 'e% Delhi**. +el.,-23*-41&.23/-34.23/-2/4& mail,ch.lcs.nic.in

1


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t "as 1er0 narrow terrtoral lmts n In#a/ namel0/ t"e

or#nar0 or8nal c1l


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LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA

PROPOSAL FOR ENACTMENT OF NEW CORONERS

ACT APPLICA=LE TO T+E W+OLE OF INDIA

CONTENTS

Seral No$ Ttle Pa8e Nos$

3$ Intro#.cton B 7 34

%$ Anne9 3574

T"e Coroners =ll/ %&&*


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Intro#.cton

!erious concern has een e0"ressed at 5arious

6uarters on account o$ recent anormal s"urt in the

unnatural deaths es"eciall7 at "laces like hos"itals "olice

$irings and "olice encounters rail%a7s and other 5ehicles

and e5en in the household 7 %a7 o$ do%r7 deaths raising

sus"icions o$ ado"tion o$ illegal means %ith a strong

"ossiilit7 o$ the com"licit7 o$ the o$$icials o$ the !tate. It

has also een $ound that in criminal cases the di5ergent

"ostmortem re"orts and the statements o$ %itnesses ha5e

led to an alarming rate o$ ac6uittal in criminal cases.

8oreo5er sco"e o$ Article 2 has een enormousl7

e0"anded 7 the A"e0 #ourt so as to include the right to

kno% or right to ha5e the correct in$ormation and this %ill

also include the right to kno% the correct cause o$ death o$

an7 "erson.

-


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It is also clear that "ulic interest %ill e greatl7

suser5ed and the moral $aric o$ our democratic

go5ernment %ould e consideral7 strengthened i$ the

correct and true cause o$ the death o$ an7 "erson is kno%n

es"eciall7 %hen the death is unnatural or there are

surrounding sus"icious circumstances.

At "resent in the entire countr7 the e0isting #oronersAct / a""lies onl7 in res"ect o$ 5er7 limited territorial

9urisdiction namel7 the ordinar7 original ci5il 9urisdiction

o$ the :igh #ourts o$ #alcutta and Boma7 and thus the

entire territorial oundaries o$ e5en these t%o !tates ha5e

not een co5ered under the said Act.

!uggestions ha5e also een made $rom man7 6uarters

including 7 %a7 o$ 9udicial decisions that such an Act

should e $ramed $or the entire countr7. In ;rit


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nited Cingdom is needed in this countr7 and %hether a

suitale "ro"osal $or this "ur"ose should e made to the

lasgo% ngland. +he "arents %ere not


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satis$ied %ith the said re"ort ut the7 could not "ro5e the

medical negligence o$ the doctors in the nited Cingdom

ecause according to them the true cause o$ death could

not e $ound out and a$ter a la"se o$ long se5en 7ears the

"arents had rought the od7 o$ the un$ortunate child in

India in the 7ear 2**/ and a$ter making se5eral

corres"ondence %ith the go5ernmental authorities a


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o$$icer in India cannot register a case or in5estigate the

commission o$ an7 o$$ence that has taken "lace outside

India.

;ith a 5ie% to ha5e uni$ormit7 o$ the la% a""licale

throughout India it ma7 e considered that the e0tant

#oroners Act / should e re"ealed in order that the

"ro5isions o$ the #ode o$ #riminal o5ernment o$ India in the $orm gi5en in the Anne0.

3


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(Dr. Justice AR. Lakshmanan)

#hairman

(


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C+APTER I

Prelmnar0

. +his Act ma7 e called the #oroners Act 2**.

2. It e0tends to the %hole o$ India.

C+APTER II

Appontment of Coroners

3. () ;ithin the local limits o$ each district o$ a !tate

and also $or e5er7 nion +erritor7 there shall e a #oroner.

o5ernment.

4. 5er7 such o$$icer shall e a""ointed and ma7 e

sus"ended or remo5ed 7 the !tate >o5ernment.

&. 5er7 #oroner shall e deemed a "ulic ser5ant %ithin

the meaning o$ the Indian


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1. +here shall e a se"arate cadre o$ #oroners in each

!tate. +he #oroners shall e a""ointed 7 the !tate

>o5ernment in accordance %ith the Rules la7ing do%n their

6uali$ications method o$ recruitment terms and conditions

o$ their ser5ice including their salaries and allo%ances

"a7ale 7 the concerned !tate and e5er7 such coroner %ill

e a %hole time em"lo7ee o$ the !tate concerned. !er5ices

o$ the #oroners %ould e a5ailale during all times o$ a da7

throughout.

C+APTER III

D.tes an# Powers of Coroners

/. () ;hen the #oroner is in$ormed that the dead od7

o$ a "erson is l7ing %ithin his 9urisdiction and there is

reasonale cause to sus"ect that such "erson has died under

an7 o$ the circumstances mentioned in section or has died

a sudden death o$ %hich the cause is unkno%n the #oroner

ma7 "roceed to hold a "reliminar7 in6uir7 on the od7.


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an7 other "lace l7ing unattended and in his o"inion

immediate and urgent action is necessar7 to e taken he %ill

also ha5e e0traterritorial 9urisdiction to take cogniHance o$

that dead od7.

(2) For the "ur"ose o$ an in6uir7 under susection

() the #oroner ma7 as son as "racticale a$ter recei"t o$

the in$ormation "roceed to 5ie% and e0amine the od7. !uch

5ie% and e0amination shall e held in the "resence o$ the "olice o$$icer to %hose 9urisdiction the case elongs and i$

"ossile in the "resence o$ the relations or $riends i$ an7 o$

the deceased and the #oroner ma7 reduce to %riting such

oser5ations as the a""earances o$ the od7 re6uires. ;hen

the in6uir7 is concluded i$ the #oroner is satis$ied as to the

cause o$ death and i$ a "ost mortem e0amination is in his

o"inion not necessar7 the #oroner ma7 authoriHe the od7 to

e dis"osed o$.

. ;here the #oroner has reason to elie5e that death has

occurred %ithin his 9urisdiction in an7 o$ the circumstances

mentioned in section or 2 and that o%ing to the

destruction o$ the od7 7 $ire or other%ise or dis"osal

thereo$ in contra5ention o$ an7 la% $or the time eing in

$orce or to the $act that the od7 is l7ing in a "lace $rom

/


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%hich it cannot e reco5ered an in6uest cannot e held

e0ce"t 7 5irtue o$ the "ro5isions o$ this section he ma7

re"ort the $acts to the !tate >o5ernment and the !tate

>o5ernment ma7 i$ it considers desirale so to do direct an

in6uest to e held touching the death. ;hen such direction

is gi5en an in6uest shall e held accordingl7 7 the #oroner

and the "ro5isions o$ this Act shall a""l7 %ith such

modi$ications as ma7 e necessar7 in conse6uence o$ the

in6uest eing held other%ise than on or a$ter 5ie% o$ the od7.

-. E0humation o$ od7 $or e0amination

23. () A #oroner ma7 order the e0humation o$

the od7 o$ a "erson uried %ithin his district

%here it a""ears to him that it is necessar7 $or the

od7 to e e0amined G

(a) $or the "ur"ose o$ his holding an in6uest

into that "ersons death or discharging an7

other $unction o$ his in relation to the od7

or the deathK or

() $or the "ur"oses o$ an7 criminal "roceedings

%hich ha5e een instituted or are


19/34

contem"lated in res"ect o$ the death o$ that

"erson or o$ some other "erson %ho came 7

his death in circumstances connected %ith

the death o$ the "erson %hose od7 is

needed $or e0amination.

(2) +he "o%er o$ a #oroner under this section

shall e e0ercisale 7 %arrant under his hand.

(3) 'o od7 shall e ordered 7 a #oroner to e

e0humed e0ce"t under this !ection.

*. A #oroner %ill ha5e 9urisdiction o5er a dead od7

$ound %ithin his territorial 9urisdiction %hether the death has

occurred in an7 "art o$ the countr7 or e5en aroad. +he

cause o$ action %ill not de"end on the cause o$ the death

%hich might e arisen at some other territorial 9urisdiction

like ullet in9ur7 or administration o$ "oison in some other

territor7 and the "resence o$ the od7 %ill 7 itsel$ determine

the cause o$ action 7 a #oroner.

. () I$ it a""ears to the #oroner either e$ore or in the

course o$ an in6uir7 under section / that there is reason to

sus"ect G

-


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(a) that the deceased came 7 his death 7 homicide

suicide or in$anticideK or

() that the death %as caused 7 an accident or

"oison or machiner7K or

(c) that the death %as caused 7 an occurrence arising

out o$ the use o$ a 5ehicle in a street "ulic road

or in a "ri5ate "laceK or

(d) that the death occurred in a "rison in %hich the

deceased %as a "risoner or that it occurred %hilstthe deceased %as in the custod7 o$ the "oliceK or

(e) that the death occurred G

in a le"er as7lum a""ointed under the Le"ers Act

-K

($) in an as7lum or mental hos"ital estalished or

licensed under the Indian Lunac7 Act -2K

(g) in a Borstal !chool estalished under the Boma7

Borstal !chools Act -2-K

(h) in a Recei5ing #entre or #erti$ied Institution

"ro5ided and maintained under the Boma7

Beggars Act -4&K

(i) in an7 certi$ied school Remand :ome or $it

"erson institution or a""ro5ed "lace estalished

maintained declared or recogniHed as the case

ma7 e under the Boma7 #hildren Act -4K

2*


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in %hich the deceased %as recei5ed detained

committed to con$ined or ke"t as the case ma7

e under the orders o$ an7 authorit7 com"etent to

"ass such orders under the said ActsK or

(9) that the death occurred in circumstances the

continuance or "ossile recurrence o$ %hich is

"re9udicial to the health or sa$et7 o$ the "ulic or

an7 section o$ the "ulic,

and in an7 other case i$ it a""ears to the #oroner either e$ore or in the course o$ the "reliminar7

in6uir7 that there is reason $or holding an in6uest

he shall "roceed to hold such in6uest %hether or

not the cause o$ death arose %ithin his

9urisdictionK

(k) that the death is caused in a hos"ital=nursing

home %hether run 7 >o5ernment a trust G

"ulic or "ri5ate or a "urel7 "ri5ate hos"ital or

nursing homeK

(l) death has occurred on the rail%a7s or tram%a7s or

air%a7s or other 5ehicles %hether mechanicall7

"ro"elled or dri5en 7 handK

(m) death has occurred in a "olice $iringK

(n) death has occurred in a "olice encounterK

2


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(o) death has occurred in "ulic "arks or at "laces o$

"ulic resortK

(") do%r7 deaths %ithin the households %here there is

a com"laint regarding the demand o$ do%r7 7

an7 "ersonK


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2. () ;here a "erson dies G

(a) in a "rison situate %ithin the local limits o$

the #oroners 9urisdiction the

!u"erintendent o$ the "rison

() %hile in the custod7 o$ the "olice the "olice

o$$icer in charge o$ the station concerned

(c) in an7 o$ the "laces re$erred to in clause (e)to (9) o$ susection () o$ section the

!u"erintendent %here there is a

!u"erintendent a""ointed $or such "lace and

else%here the "erson in charge o$ the "lace

(d) in res"ect o$ the cases co5ered under clauses

(k) to (") o$ section 7 the concerned

authorit7 or the indi5idual shall re"ort the

death to the #oroner and a%ait his orders

e$ore the od7 is dis"osed o$.

(2) An7 !u"erintendent o$ "rison or an7 such "olice

o$$icer or an7 !u"erintendent or "erson in charge o$ the "lace

re$erred to in clause (e) to (9) o$ susection () o$ section

concerned authorit7 or the indi5idual under clauses (k) to (")

%ho $ails to com"l7 %ith the re6uirements in susection ()

23


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shall on con5iction e$ore a 8agistrate e "unished %ith

$ine %hich ma7 e0tend to $i5e hundred ru"ees.

3. () An7 "erson %ho %ith the intention o$ "re5enting

the holding o$ an in6uest on a dead od7 %hich the #oroner

is ound to hold under section uries cremates or

other%ise dis"oses o$ it and an7 "erson %ho %ith such

intention aets such urial cremation or dis"osal o$ a dead

od7 shall on con5iction e$ore a 8agistrate e "unished%ith $ine %hich ma7 e0tend to $i5e hundred ru"ees.

(2) !uch "unishment shall e in addition to the

"unishment to %hich such "erson ma7 e liale $or an7

o$$ence o$ %hich he ma7 e $ound guilt7 in res"ect o$ the

death o$ the deceased or under section 2* o$ the Indian


25/34

&. +he #oroner %ill conduct the in6uest himsel$ 7 calling

such numer o$ credile %itnesses as he deems $it ut not

less than three in numer.

1. At or e$ore the $irst sitting o$ an in6uest on a od7 the

#oroner shall 5ie% the od7.


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or "roduce an7 document material thereto ma7 issue a

summon re6uiring him to attend and gi5e e5idence or

"roduce such document on the in6uest.

(2) ;hen an7 "erson so summoned $ails to a""ear

and the summons has een "ro5ed to e dul7 ser5ed on him

in time to admit o$ his a""earing in accordance there%ith and

no reasonale e0cuse is o$$ered $or such $ailure the #oroner

ma7 a$ter recording his reasons in %riting issue a %arrant$or his arrest. !uch %arrant shall e e0ecuted as i$ it %ere

issued under section / o$ the #ode o$ #riminal


27/34

-. () I$ e$ore "roceeding to 5ie% a od7 under section

/ or at the 5ie% or at an7 stage o$ an in6uest 7 9ur7 it

a""ears to the #oroner that a "ost mortem e0amination o$ the

od7 is necessar7 to ascertain the cause o$ death he ma7

direct such e0amination to eheld 7 the ci5il surgeon or 7 a

dul7 6uali$ied registered medical "ractitioner in5ited to

attend as a %itness. +he #oroner ma7 also direct an

anal7sis o$ an7 o$ the organs or "arts o$ the od7 or o$ their

contents. 5er7 medical %itness other than the #hemical0aminer to >o5ernment and the #oroners !urgeon shall e

entitled so such reasonale remuneration as the #oroner

thinks $it. For the "ur"ose o$ such "ost mortem e0amination

the #oroner ma7 order the remo5al o$ the od7 to an7 "lace

%ithin his 9urisdiction %hich ma7 e "ro5ided $or that

"ur"ose.

(2) An7 document "ur"orting to e a re"ort under the

hand o$ an7 #hemical 0aminer or Assistant #hemical

0aminer to >o5ernment u"on an7 matter or thing dul7

sumitted to him $or e0amination or anal7sis and re"ort in

the course o$ an7 "roceeding under this Act ma7 e used as

e5idence in an7 in6uest under this Act and in an7 suse6uent

in6uir7 trial or other "roceeding under the #ode o$ #riminal


28/34

2*. 'ot%ithstanding an7thing contained in this Act the

#oroner ma7 at an7 stage o$ the "roceedings under this Act

$or the "ur"oses o$ "reser5ation o$ sa$e custod7 order the

remo5al o$ the od7 to an7 "lace %ithin his 9urisdiction

%hich ma7 ha5e een "ro5ided $or that "ur"ose.

2. () All e5idence gi5en under this Act shall e0ce"t in

the case "ro5ided in susection (2) e on oath and the#oroner shall e ound to recei5e e5idence on ehal$ o$ the

"erson %ho is alleged to ha5e caused or to e concerned in

causing the death o$ the deceased "erson.

(2) I$ such "erson himsel$ %ishes to make a statement

it shall e the dut7 o$ the #oroner to %arn him that he is not

ound to make an7 statementK ut i$ such "erson "ersists the

#oroner shall %ithout administering him an7 oath record his

statement in $ull a$ter dul7 %arning him that an7

incriminating statement %hich he ma7 make ma7 e used in

e5idence in an7 suse6uent in6uir7 trial or other "roceeding

under the #ode o$ #riminal


29/34

(4) ;itnesses unac6uainted %ith the nglish

language shall e e0amined through the medium o$ an

inter"reter %ho shall e s%orn to inter"ret trul7 as %ell the

oath as the 6uestion "ut to and the ans%ers gi5en 7 each

%itness.

22. +he #oroner ma7 ad9ourn the in6uest $rom time to time

and $rom "lace to "lace.

23. () I$ on an in6uest touching a death the #oroner is

in$ormed that criminal "roceedings ha5e een instituted

against some "erson e$ore a 8agistrate in res"ect o$ an

o$$ence touching the death o$ the deceased he ma7 ad9ourn

the in6uest and sumit his "roceedings to the 8agistrate.

(2) For the "ur"oses o$ this section the e0"ression

Ethe criminal "roceedings means the "roceedings e$ore a

8agistrate and e$ore an7 court to %hich the accused "erson

is committed $or trial or e$ore %hich an a""eal $rom the

con5iction o$ that "erson is heard and criminal "roceedings

shall not e deemed to e concluded until no $urther a""eal

can e made in the course thereo$.

2-


30/34

24. ;hen all the %itnesses ha5e een e0amined the

#oroner shall sum u" the e5idence the #oroner shall

therea$ter %ill sumit his re"ort %ith the necessar7 details

and reasons to the #ommissioner o$


31/34

In an7 case o$ technical de$ect a Judge o$ the :igh

court ma7 i$ he thinks $it order the in6uest to e amended

and the same shall $orth%ith e amended accordingl7.


32/34

2-. All disursements dul7 made 7 a #oroner $or $ees to

medical %itnesses and the like shall e re"aid to him 7 the

!tate >o5ernment.

3*. 5er7 #oroner ma7 $rom time to time %ith the "re5ious

sanction o$ the !tate >o5ernment a""oint 7 %riting under

his hand a "ro"er "erson to act $or him as his de"ut7 in the

holding o$ in6uests.

All in6uests taken and other acts done 7 an7 such

de"ut7 under or 7 5irtue o$ an7 such a""ointment shall e

deemed to e the acts o$ the #oroner a""ointing him,


33/34

32. An7 #oroner or De"ut7 #oroner $ailing to com"l7 %ith

the "ro5isions o$ this Act or other%ise misconducting

himsel$ in the e0ecution o$ his o$$ice shall e liale to such

$ine or sim"le im"risonment $or a "eriod not e0ceeding three

months as the #hie$ Justice o$ the :igh #ourt u"on summar7

e0amination and "roo$ o$ the $ailure or misconduct thinks $it

to im"ose.

33. +he #hie$ Justice o$ the :igh #ourt ma7 act suo motuor on the com"laint o$ an7 "erson. :o%e5er no criminal

"roceedings %ould e initiated against an7 #oroner 7 an7

"erson or authorit7 7 reason o$ his $ailure to "er$orm an7

"art o$ his dut7 or $or an7 misconduct.

34. +he !tate >o5ernment shall ha5e the "o%er to make

Rules in order to im"lement the "ro5isions o$ the Act.

33


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law commission report no. 206- proposal for enactment of new coroners act applicable to the whole of...

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