Inquest – CrPC Notes

S.174, S.175 and S.176 

• An inquest by the police falls under S.174 of the CrPC. The main object is to ascertain the cause of death in cases of suicide, unnatural death and death caused in commission of offence, etc. The police cannot administer oath to the person summoned for inquest.
• An inquest by the magistrate falls under S.176 of the CrPC. Its main object is to determine the cause of death occurring in police custody and in the cases mentioned in S.174. A magistrate is authorised to administer the oath to the people examined by him.
• 175 of the CrPC talks about the power to summon persons. It gives the police the authority to summon witnesses at the inquest. It is not necessary for the police officer to record any statements from them or get them to sign the inquest report. Their statements fall under S.162 of the CrPC.

Inquest Report:

• Document of vital importance and has to be prepared promptly as it is handed over to the doctor along with the dead body when it is being sent for the post-mortem examination.
• If the facts of the inquest are mentioned in the report, it shows the true version of the occurrence has been given therein. If they are not mentioned, it shows that the police officer was unsure about the facts.
• It is not substantive evidence.
• It can corroborate the evidence given by the officer making the report.

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