A REVIEW ON LEGAL PROCEDURE – INQUEST

Abstract

An inquest is one of the legal procedure. It is also known as inquiry or investigation. It is conducted in case of unnatural or unknown death to determine the cause of death and manner of death. There are mainly five types Police, Magistrate, Coroner’s, Medical examiner system and Procurator fiscal. Among them medical examiner system is superior. In India Only Police Inquest (as per Sec.174 CrPC) and Magistrate Inquest (as per Sec.176 CrPC) are conducted. The main aim of an inquest is to identify the unknown death body and to try to find out how, when and where the person died. In case of no foul play, the body is handed over to the relatives for the disposal of the body as per their rituals. But in case of unnatural or suspicious death, the body is sent to the authorized doctor for post-mortem examination. Inquest is very necessary and it is the first most important way to identify the unknown dead body. This is very helpful to the family or relatives. This article is mainly based on an inquest and their procedure.