THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, August 28: MMCH Daltonganj is in the eye of a storm. It is because of its frequent referring the dead and the living alike to the higher centre in Ranchi.
It refers complicated and difficult cases of dead for the post mortem to the RIMS in Ranchi.
The complicated and difficult cases involve highly decomposed bodies or where the gun shots remain embedded in the bodies etc.
Likewise, critically wounded, severely road accident victims, cardiac patients etc are very plainly referred to the higher centre in Ranchi.
For the police referring a dead for post mortem in Ranchi in cases where there are criminal investigations, such a distant post-mortem reflects adversely on the track of the investigation of the case by the police.
DIG Questions Need for Distant Post-Mortems
Distant post-mortem has twin effects. One for the police. Two for the bereaved family. Police are to wait for the findings of the post-mortem. Family in grief has to travel to and fro with the dead!
“Family of the deceased, where the body is sent to RIMS Ranchi, undergoes a lot of traumas and hardships as such family finds this a huge drain out of their time, energy and money too,” said the DIG of police Palamu range Naushad Alam.
DIG is too concerned about such a distant post mortem, as he strongly believes things can be sorted out here in the MMCH Daltonganj itself.
Also Read- PM Jan Dhan Yojana completes 11 years, 56 crore accounts opened
Dialysis is done in the MMCH Daltonganj but the opinion of the nephrologist is sought online. Similarly, in complicated and difficult cases of post-mortem such online opinions can be sought from the superiors. Why is there such a contrast when it comes to the post-mortem here in the MMCH Daltonganj?
A very recent case of a cop identified as Vijay Oraon has triggered this issue. The body of Oraon was found 2 days old and decomposed. His face was crushed with stones. He was a case of strangulation to death.
The MMCH here in Daltonganj refused to conduct his post-mortem saying ‘the case is too worse for the post-mortem’.
Sources said the police moved from pillar to post for this post-mortem here but in vain. Police finally sent the body to RIMS Ranchi late at night. Sources said even the efforts of the DIG to get the post-mortem done here went in vain.
Commenting on this episode, DIG said, ” We believe we have a whole set of experts here, as we have a medical college here too.”
“Refusing to conduct the post-mortem here appears to be unintelligible. Had the post-mortem of our cop done here, it would have saved the police its precious time, which could have been put to investigate this brutal murder of the cop,” opined the DIG.
Civil Surgeon Defends Doctors’ Decision
On the other hand, the Civil Surgeon of Palamu Dr Anil Kumar Sriwastwa remarked, “Post-mortem is a matter of forensic expertise. A doctor or a board of doctors, whatever the case may be, has professional and ethical grounds to recommend post mortem to be done in a higher centre than this.”
Civil Surgeon further explained, “No post mortem is refused or denied here rather, it is recommended to be conducted in a higher centre.”
“Recommending post-mortem to be done in a higher centre not be construed as any lackadaisical or inhuman approach of the doctor or the board of doctors as it’s well within the authority of the concerned to recommend”, reiterated the Civil Surgeon Dr Sriwastwa.
No doctor or board of doctors ever wants any flaw in post-mortem as it has a long and tedious legal ramification, he reminded.
Post-mortem has to be flawless and accurate. It should be conclusive where the viscera report comes in fast, reiterated the Civil Surgeon.
Also Read- Jharkhand Minister Hafizul Hasan hospitalized in Ranchi, condition seriou
Delays in Reports Hampering Police Investigations
Close to this situation, is inordinate delay in submitting the injury report.
The DIG has taken a serious note of it, saying “Injury report is to reach police within 7 days of its observation. Does it reach in time?”
On being asked as to how delayed post-mortem and injury reports affect the police to which, the DIG explained, “It affects most terribly. Delay impacts the criminal investigation of the case.”
He said, “Delayed post-mortem and injury reports derail the filing of charge sheets. The deadline for filing charge sheet within 90 days or 60 days is missed for want of post-mortem and injury reports, giving the accused the benefit of the default bail. It’s not at all a happy situation for the police.”
Administration Promises Upgrade of Facilities
Palamu DC Sameera S, on being contacted, said, “The DIG did speak to me in this regard. Recommendation for post mortem in higher centre is in only those cases where more forensic expertise and skill are required, which is lacking here.”
The post-mortem house and its facilities are to be upgraded, added the DC.
Charge sheet in cases where the sentence is either of death, life imprisonment or 10 years imprisonment, is to be submitted to the court of law within 90 days.
The charge sheet of cases having other than these three sentences is to be submitted within 60 days.
Police sources said the denial of local post mortem in MMCH Daltonganj and delay in submitting the report of post mortem or injury makes police vulnerable to bear the wrath of the court which in no unsparing tone reprimands the police like anything.
“If the case of the post mortem genuinely calls for referring to the higher centre, then there is no issue of it but where post mortem can be done here, such a case be not made to travel by road”, asserted the DIG.
