By admin Importance of Medical and Post-Mortem Reports in Dowry Death Cases
IPC Section 304B | Dowry Death
In cases of alleged dowry death, medical and post-mortem reports play a crucial role in determining the actual cause of death, and whether the claims made by the complainant are genuine or fabricated.
1. Establishing the Cause of Death
The post-mortem report provides scientific evidence about:
Whether death was due to homicide, suicide, or natural causes.
Type and nature of injuries (external and internal).
Use of poison, burns, strangulation, or other means.
This helps differentiate between real dowry deaths and false allegations.
2. Verifying the Timeline of Injuries
Medical reports often confirm or contradict the allegations regarding:
When the injuries occurred,
Whether they match the alleged time of incident,
And whether they were self-inflicted, accidental, or inflicted by another person.
3. Protection Against False Accusations
In some cases, innocent family members or husbands are falsely implicated. A clean medical/post-mortem report can:
Prove absence of physical assault or burns,
Highlight natural medical conditions leading to death,
Help courts dismiss baseless allegations.
4. Support for Fair Investigation and Justice
A neutral and scientific report:
Helps the police and judiciary maintain objectivity,
Prevents misuse of Section 304B, and
Ensures genuine victims get justice while protecting the innocent.
Conclusion:
> Medical and post-mortem reports are not just technical documents — they are often the deciding factor between justice and injustice in dowry death cases.
They protect the rights of the victim, as well as the accused, ensuring the truth prevails.