Exhumation and its procedure

Exhumation means lawful digging out of an already buried body from the grave for such medico-legal purpose as identification of autopsy in case of suspicious death for foul play.

Exhumation and its procedure

Procedure of exhumation:

Written order from first class magistrate or any other empowered magistrate is required to undertake exhumation.

• The body is exhumed under the supervision of a medical officer in the presence of a police officer.
• It is to be carried out in the day light, preferably in the morning.
• The exact situation of the grave should be found out
• A suitable screen should be erected around the grave.
• The coffin should be identified by the name plate or by the undertaker who made it.
• The medical officer should stand on the wind ward side of the grave to avoid inhaling offensive gases. He should wear rubber gloves and a gas mask.
• Collection of samples o earth from just above the coffin and also from each side of the coffin, then placing them in separate dry glass jars which are properly sealed and labeled. And fluid in the coffin should also be collected. Of the body is uncoffined several samples of earth actually in contact with the body should be collected.
• The body should then be raised from inside the coffin after waiting for sometime so that the offensive gases may escape.
• Identification of the body by the relatives and friends.
• The post mortem examination should be conducted in mortuary if possible, or by the side of the grave, screened off from public view.
• P.M. examination is conduction as usual.

All the viscera should be preserved for chemical analysis.