Vidhi Codex

Bare Act

The Coroners Act, 1871

General187148 sections

This Act governs Coroners in the Presidency-towns of Calcutta and Bombay. A Coroner is appointed to inquire into sudden, violent or suspicious deaths within their area, and any such death must be reported to them. The Coroner holds an inquest, with or without a jury, can order a body to be dug up for examination, summon witnesses, take evidence on oath and order a post-mortem. Disposing of a body to prevent an inquest is an offence.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 0. Preamble
  2. 1. Short title
  3. 2. Repeal of enactments
  4. 3. Coroners of Calcutta and Bombay
  5. 4. Their appointment, suspension and removal
  6. 4A. Power of Coroner of Bombay to distribute work between himself and Additional Coroners
  7. 5. Coroners to be public servants
  8. 6. Power to hold other offices
  9. 7. Oath to be taken by Coroner
  10. 8. Jurisdiction to inquire into death
  11. 8A. When the inquiry is concluded if the Coroner is satisfied as to the cause of death and if a post mortem examination is in his opinion not necessary, the Coroner may authorise the body to be disposed of.
  12. 9. Inquest by jury
  13. 10. Report of death to Coroner
  14. 11. Penalty for disposal of body to prevent an inquest
  15. 12. Power to order body to be disinterred
  16. 13. Summoning Jury
  17. 14. Opening Court. Jurors to be sworn
  18. 14A. Inquest may be on Sunday or public holiday
  19. 15. View of body
  20. 16. Proclamation for witnesses
  21. 17. Summoning witnesses
  22. 18. Post-mortem examinations. Fees to medical witnesses. Report of Chemical Examiner
  23. 18A. Power to order removal of body for preservation or safe custody
  24. 19. Evidence to be on oath. Evidence on behalf of the accused. Interpreter
  25. 20. Mode of recording evidence
  26. 21. Adjournment of inquest. Jurors' recognizances
  27. 21A. Inquest to be adjourned if criminal proceedings have been instituted before a Magistrate
  28. 22. Coroner to sum up to jury
  29. 23. Coroner to draw up inquisition
  30. 24. Contents of inquisition
  31. 25. Every such inquisition shall be in the form set forth in the second Schedule hereto annexed, with such variation as the circumstances of each case require.
  32. 26. Power to arrest and commit for trial
  33. 27. Repealed]
  34. 28. Warrant for burial
  35. 29. Inquisitions not to be quashed for want of form. Amendment of inquisition
  36. 30. In any case of technical defect, a Judge of the High Court may, if he thinks fit, order the inquisition to be amended, and the same shall forthwith be amended accordingly.
  37. 31. Deodands are hereby abolished.
  38. 32. Provided that the Coroner may, in his discretion, remit any fine so imposed.
  39. 33. Levy of fine
  40. 34. Jurors not to be summoned twice within the year
  41. 35. Jurors on inquest on prisoner
  42. 36. Coroner's salary
  43. 37. Disbursements to be repaid
  44. 38. Power to appoint deputy
  45. 39. Every such appointment may at any time be cancelled and revoked by the Coroner by whom it was made.
  46. 40. Privilege from arrest
  47. 41. Penalty for failure to comply with Act
  48. 42. Limitation of suits

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