The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Knowledge of forensic medicine crucial to delivery of justice: High Court

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Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008
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Knowledge of forensic medicine crucial to delivery of justice: High Court

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Medical evidence plays a crucial role in determining many of the crimes perpetrated against the human body. Knowledge of forensic medicine among medical officers is of utmost significance for the justice delivery system, the Madras High Court has said.

Justice S. Palanivelu, in his order transferring a case relating to the death of a canteen worker from the Maraimalai Nagar police station to the CB CID for further investigation, directed the CB CID to file the final report within three months.

In her petition, Muniammal said her son, Muniyan, was working at Siva’s canteen in Kattankulathur. In January 2007, on hearing that her son was missing, she rushed to the canteen. She found the body of her son hanging from the branch of a tree. Suspecting foul play, she lodged a complaint with the Maraimalainagar police. As the police had closed the case, she filed the petition.

In his order, Mr.Justice Palanivelu said there was no time of death mentioned in the records. The only scientific method which would make clear the time of death was analysing the features obtained at the time of autopsy. In the post-mortem certificate, opinion had been reserved pending report on toxicological analysis. While the final opinion was rendered after scrutiny of the toxicological report, the time of death had not been furnished.

The Judge said when the final opinion on the cause of death was awaited, it was odd that the case was closed, as there were other factors that needed to be looked into. He said if the post-mortem certificate was bereft of particulars or had insufficient findings, then it would lead to several difficulties for the deciding authority.

After going through the material available in the case, the court made several suggestions for consideration by the authorities. They included that the Directorate of Medical Sciences and DME, with the concurrence of the State Government, contemplate imparting periodical training to government medical officers, medical and para-medical staff in forensic medicine. Every doctor posted in a government hospital could undergo a week’s training in the forensic science department in a nearby government medical college periodically.

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