Thanatology: inquiry in custodial death: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Forensic Medicine · Thanatology: inquiry in custodial death

Sample item

A 28-year-old man arrested for theft dies on the second night in a police lock-up, and his family alleges assault. Which inquiry is mandatory in this situation?

AA departmental inquiry by the superintendent of the hospital where the body is takenBA coroner's inquest, which is the standard system in all Indian statesCAn inquiry by a magistrate, in addition to the routine police inquestDA police inquest by the investigating officer of the same station alone

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. An inquiry by a magistrate, in addition to the routine police inquest

In deaths in police custody the law requires an inquiry by a judicial or executive magistrate (CrPC 176, now BNSS 196), because the police are themselves interested in the outcome. The autopsy is performed by a team of doctors and videographed.

Option by option

A. A departmental inquiry by the superintendent of the hospital where the body is taken
A hospital departmental inquiry has no statutory role in establishing the cause of a custodial death.
B. A coroner's inquest, which is the standard system in all Indian states
India does not use a general coroner system; inquests are done by police and magistrates.
C. An inquiry by a magistrate, in addition to the routine police inquest (correct)
Correct. Independent magistrate inquiry is compulsory when a person dies in police custody.
D. A police inquest by the investigating officer of the same station alone
The police inquest alone is inadequate because of conflict of interest.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, An inquiry by a magistrate, in addition to the routine police inquest. In deaths in police custody the law requires an inquiry by a judicial or executive magistrate (CrPC 176, now BNSS 196), because the police are themselves interested in the outcome.

Why is "A departmental inquiry by the superintendent of the hospital where th…" not the answer?

A hospital departmental inquiry has no statutory role in establishing the cause of a custodial death.

Why is "A coroner's inquest, which is the standard system in all Indian states" not the answer?

India does not use a general coroner system; inquests are done by police and magistrates.

Why is "A police inquest by the investigating officer of the same station alo…" not the answer?

The police inquest alone is inadequate because of conflict of interest.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: inquiry in custodial death in Forensic Medicine. The autopsy is performed by a team of doctors and videographed.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Thanatology: inquiry in custodial death?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.