panchanama

PANCHANAMA

Has significance value but not defined anywhere in law.

It is document Courts look into to check the veracity and truthfulness of action taken by public officers.

In Sanskrit “panch” means respectable person and “nama” means written document.

Indirectly mentioned in section 100 and 174 of Criminal Procedure Code, 1973.

CONTENTS OF PANCHANAMA

Name and place of police Station,

Name and rank of officer commencing panchanama,

Name, age and address of panchas,

Details of particular place or persons,

Detail list of articles found in that place or from the

person which are incriminating,


Record of time when it was commenced and when it ended,

Signatures of that officer and both of panchas.

After preparation of panchanama the panchas should

read its contents.


If the panch is illiterate then such panchanama should

be read over to him and there should be endorsement

that the contents of panchanama were read over to

them.

KINDS OF PANCHANAMAS

SPOT PANCHANAMA :-

In this panchanama there is details about the crime

scene.

MEMORANDUM PANCHANAMA :-

The statement made by accused in police custody is

recorded before panchas.


SEIZURE PANCHANAMA :-

During investigation the investigating officer finds

articles which he thinks important for investigation. He

seizes that articles in presence of panchas and draws

panchanama.


INQUEST PANCHNAMA :-

When any person dies due to the result of crime or

under suspicious circumstances then the

Investigating Officer has to draw inquest

panchanama. The provision can be found in section

174 of the Criminal procedure Code, 1973.


ARREST PANCHANAMA :-

Whenever the police officer carry out arrest of any person

then such panchanama is drawn.

PROCEDURE PANCHANAMA:-

Whenever the Food Inspector visit any shop or place he

prepared panchanama in presence of two panchas of all the

action taken by him.


TEST IDENTIFICATION PANCHANAMA:-

When accused persons are unknown to victim then they

are shown to victim for identification. There is certain

procedure prescribed in law for conducting such

identification parades.


SPECIMEN PANCHANAMA:-

When specimen of signatures or specimen of handwriting

accused is taken by investigating officer, such specimen is

taken in presence of panchas and this type of panchanama

is drawn.


VEHICLE INSPECTION PANCHANAMA:-

This panchanama can be found in accident cases. In

accident cases the vehicle is inspected by investigating

officer and panchanama is drawn.


PRE-TRAP PANCHANAMA:-

This panchanama is prepared prior to conducting raid by

the police officers. Specially this panchanama can be

found in Prevention of Corruption Act cases. After raid

generally post trap panchanama is also drawn.

EVIDENTIARY VALUE OF

PANCHANAMA. It is to be noted that there could be panchanama other

than the above list as the above list is not exhaustive.

Sometimes panchanama are also found in civil cases.

The panchanama can be used as corroborative piece of

evidence. It is not substantive piece of evidence. In

absence of any substantive piece of evidence only relying

upon panchanamas on record there cannot be conviction.

MAHESH S. LONE

panchanama

Law