Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh): The High Court has directed the Principal Secretary (Public Health and Family Welfare ) to conduct an inquiry into the district medical board report issued by JP Hospital, Bhopal, concerning the age determination of a rape victim (prosecutrix).
The court also ordered the Principal Secretary to file the inquiry report within fifteen days.
The directive came during the hearing of a criminal appeal filed by a convict accused of abducting and sexually exploiting a minor girl under the pretext of marriage. A case had been registered against him at Baghsevaniya police station in Bhopal under relevant sections of the IPC and the POCSO Act.
While reviewing the case, the High Court considered the statement of a doctor — one of the prosecution witnesses — who pointed out that the medical board’s report lacked the opinion of both the Radiologist and the Dentist. The doctor further stated that the board had based its opinion regarding the girl’s age solely on her physical appearance.
A division bench comprising Justice Vivek Agrawal and Justice A.K. Singh observed: “Prima facie, we are of the opinion that the doctors constituting the medical board which gave the said report have shown dereliction of duty. Prima facie, they are guilty of furnishing an incorrect report under external pressure.”
The court expressed dissatisfaction with such practices and further directed the government counsel to refer the report to a forensic expert. The aim is to assess whether the report meets legal standards — especially since it lacked critical elements such as enclosed X-ray reports and a radiographic opinion related to dental structure, both of which are essential for age determination.
