Removal of the eyes of deceased persons.

(1) If any person, either in writing at any time or orally in the presence of to or more persons during his last illness, has expressed an unequivocal request that his eye or eyes be used for therapeutic purposes after his death, the party lawfully in possession of his body after his death, may, unless, the said party has reason to believe that the request was subsequently withdrawn, authorise the removal of the eye or eyes from the body for use for those purposes. (2) Without prejudice to sub-section (1), the party law-fully in possession of the body of a deceased person may authorise the removal of the eye or eyes from the body for the purposes aforesaid unless that party has reason to believe:— (a) that the deceased had expressed an objection to his eye or eyes being so dealt with after his death, and had not withdrawn it; or (b) that the surviving spouse or any near relative of the deceased objects to the eye or eyes of the deceased being so dealt with. (3) An authority given under this Act in resBillpect of any deceased person shall be sufficient warrant for the removal of the eye or eyes from the body and its or their use for the purposes aforesaid; but no such removal shall be effected except by a medical officer possessing the prescribed qualifications and attached to, or employed in, an approved institution, who must have satisfied himself by a personal examination of the body that life is extinct and the eye or eyes shall after such removal be handed over by such medical officer to the nearest approved institution. (4) (a) No authority for the removal of the eye or eyes under this Act shall be given if the party empowered to give such authority has reason to believe that an inquest may be required to be held on the body. (b) Any person who, knowing or having reason to believe that an inquest may be required to be held over a dead body, gives or abets the giving of any authority under this Act, shall on conviction before a Magistrate, be liable to fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. (5) No authority shall be given under this Act in respect of the body of a deceased person by any person who has been entrusted with the body solely for the purpose of its interment, burial, cremation or disposal otherwise. (6) In the case of a body lying in a hospital, prison, nursing home or institution, and not claimed by any of the near relatives of the deceased within such time as may be prescribed, an authority under this Act may be given by the person having the control and management of the hospital, prison, nursing home or institution or by any person designated by the first mentioned person in that behalf. (6A) Where the body of a person has been sent for post-mortem examination— (a) for medico-legal purposes by reason of the death of such person having been caused by accident or any other unnatural cause; or (b) for pathological purposes, the person competent under this Act to give authority for the removal of the eyes from such dead body may, if he has reason to believe that the eyes will not be required for the purpose for which such body has been sent for post-mortem examination, authorise the removal for therapeutic purposes, of the eyes of such deceased person provided that he is satisfied that the deceased person had not expressed, before his death, any objection to his eyes being used for therapeutic purposes after his death or, where he had granted an authority for the use of his eyes for therapeutic purposes after his death, such authority had not been revoked by him before his death. (7) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as rendering unlawful any dealing with the body of a deceased person, or any part thereof, which would have been lawful if this Act had not been passed.