Forensic Medicine · Starvation, Neglect, Custodial and Torture-Related Deaths

Following the Supreme Court judgment in D.K. Basu versus State of West Bengal, which of the following is a mandatory requirement at the time of arrest to safeguard against custodial torture?

  • A The arrestee must be produced before a magistrate within 48 hours of arrest
  • B A memo of arrest must be prepared and attested by at least one witness, who may be a family member or a respectable person of the locality
  • C The arrestee must be medically examined only if he complains of injury
  • D The name and address of the arresting officer need not be disclosed to the arrestee
Correct answer: B. A memo of arrest must be prepared and attested by at least one witness, who may be a family member or a respectable person of the locality

Explanation

The D.K. Basu guidelines require a memo of arrest to be prepared at the time of arrest, attested by at least one witness, either a family member of the arrestee or a respectable person of the locality, and countersigned by the arrestee. Production before a magistrate is required within 24 hours, not 48. Medical examination is periodic and not contingent on complaints, and disclosure of the officer's identity is mandatory.

Reference: Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 7th ed.

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