By Rajesh Pandey
Expressing serious concern over the inordinate delay in forwarding viscera reports from Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) to investigating agencies, the Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary, Director General of Medical Health, and Director General of Police to take immediate steps to ensure that such reports are communicated promptly and without unnecessary delay.
The court said that viscera reports play a crucial role in enabling a complete, proper, and effective assessment during criminal investigations, particularly in suspicious or unnatural deaths.
Viscera examination helps determine the cause of death and identify the presence of toxic substances or drugs in the deceased’s body.
Court’s Concern Over Procedural Delay
Justice Samit Gopal, who issued the directives while hearing a bail plea in a dowry death case, observed that the current system of transmitting viscera reports suffers from serious procedural lapses.
In the present case, the viscera of the deceased were sent for examination in February 2024, and the FSL report was prepared in September 2024.
However, the report was not received by the Investigating Officer (IO) until February 1, 2025—nearly a year after the sample was sent.
By that time, the charge sheet had already been filed on September 13, 2024, and cognizance was taken by the court on November 11, 2024, long before the viscera report became available.
Describing this as a “disturbing” situation, Justice Gopal remarked:
There has to be a procedure and process of expeditiously transmitting the viscera report by the Forensic Science Laboratories to the investigating agency for its consideration.”
The court noted that because the investigation concluded without the viscera report, the cause of death remained inconclusive, rendering the investigation incomplete on a crucial aspect.
Systemic Lapses and Directions
Justice Gopal emphasized that the viscera report forms an important link in the chain of evidence in cases involving unnatural deaths.
Delays in its communication can seriously affect the fairness and completeness of investigations.
He stressed that such reports must reach investigating officers within a reasonable time to allow for meaningful analysis and accurate conclusions.
Taking a systemic view, the High Court issued specific directions to:
- The Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh,
- The Director General of Police, and
- The Director General of Medical Health, to ensure that viscera reports are transmitted promptly and efficiently to investigating officers, avoiding any “wastage of time.”
The court also directed the Registrar (Compliance) to forward copies of this order to the concerned officers within one week for necessary action and monitoring of compliance.
Case Background and Bail Order
The case relates to the alleged dowry death of a woman, whose brother lodged an FIR accusing her husband and in-laws of harassment and torture over dowry demands, including a motorcycle and ₹1 lakh in cash.
The FIR stated that the woman suffered multiple injuries on her face, neck, and other parts of her body and died under suspicious circumstances.
Opposing the bail plea of the husband, the State argued that the gravity of the allegations and the nature of the evidence did not warrant his release.
Agreeing with the prosecution, the High Court denied bail to the applicant, Ramratan, in its order dated November 7, 2025. Justice Gopal observed:
The applicant is the husband of the deceased. There is an allegation of demand for dowry, torture, and harassment by the applicant and other co-accused.
The deceased died unnaturally within seven years of marriage in her matrimonial house.
Co-accused who have been granted bail are the father-in-law and mother-in-law of the deceased, and since the applicant is the husband, his case is distinguishable from that of the co-accused.”
The court’s order thus serves a dual purpose—addressing the procedural lapse in handling viscera reports across Uttar Pradesh and reaffirming judicial sensitivity in cases involving dowry-related deaths.
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