Doubt or dispute as to near relatives or personal friends to be referred to the District Magistrate

(1) If any doubt or dispute arises whether a person is or is not a near relative or a personal friend of the deceased for the purpose of section 4, the matter shall be referred to the District Magistrate, or to any Magistrate of the 1st class authorised by him. (2) Pending such decision, the body of the deceased person shall be preserved from decay in such manner as may be prescribed.