Delay in autopsy:HC pulls up Delhi govt, cops for not setting

The Delhi High Court today pulled up the city government on a plea that alleges that they have failed to set up a proper mechanism to cut delay in conducting post mortems here.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw sought a reply from the government, saying why the order passed by this court to frame a proper mechanism to avoid all kinds of delay in conducting the post mortem, has not been implemented.
"... You (Delhi government, Delhi Police and hospitals) are not taking into the consideration even if the view is expressed by this court," the bench said, adding "you should taken instruction over the issue and inform us by July 1."

The court's oral observation came during hearing of an application filed by an advocate who sought revival of his PIL which had sought conducting of post mortems without any delay in police cases and constitution of standing and roaster-based board of doctors to handle such cases.
There were two PILs filed by K B Joshi and advocate Avadh Kaushik who had drawn the attention of the court towards the cumbersome procedure involved in post mortems and inordinate delays on account of public holidays.
Acting on PILs, the court had in August last year asked the city government to relax procedures to avoid delay in conducting post mortem in police cases and had ordered that an investigating officer should directly approach the hospital concerned without following cumbersome channels.

"We accordingly dispose of these petitions directing the respondent GNCTD / Delhi Police/ other concerned authorities to within 60 days hereof issue directions/orders/notifications as may be required to enable the IO/SHO to directly approach the concerned medical college/hospital for having the postmortem conducted, without being required to go through the channels hitherto before prevalent.
"To obviate the delays in constitution of the board of doctors on a case-to-case basis, we further direct the concerned hospitals to issue appropriate orders for having a continuing panel of doctors for conducting the postmortem and any one/two/three doctors from which panel may constitute the board, as the case may require...," the court had said while disposing of the PILs in August last year.