In a strongly worded directive that could reshape how medical evidence is processed in the criminal justice system, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered all government doctors in Haryana to submit medico-legal reports within two days of examination and inventory reports within three. The ruling comes amid increasing concern over investigative delays caused by procedural bottlenecks in public hospitals—particularly in cases involving custodial deaths, assault, and sexual crimes. The court’s order, issued in the backdrop of a critical case from Sonipat, aims to instill accountability and urgency in a process that often drags on, jeopardizing justice and allowing culprits to escape timely prosecution.
The ruling was issued while hearing a petition related to a custodial death, where an inexplicably delayed postmortem report became the fulcrum of debate. In its observation, the court not only noted the unacceptable time lag in submitting key medical records but also emphasized the larger systemic flaw—where critical forensic and medical inputs are treated with bureaucratic inertia rather than emergency-level seriousness. In doing so, the bench underscored how such delays compromise not just police investigations but also undermine public confidence in both medical institutions and the legal system.
The Sonipat case, which involved the custodial death of a youth under controversial circumstances, has since become a flashpoint in Haryana’s law enforcement and medical accountability discourse. Families of the deceased had accused authorities of suppressing evidence, pointing specifically to the postmortem report, which took over two weeks to be filed and was reportedly full of inconsistencies. The High Court’s intervention is being seen as a decisive push for institutional reform and timely evidence processing.
Legal experts say the judgment could prove transformative if implemented in spirit, not just in letter. By mandating a two-day window for medical reports and a three-day deadline for inventory submissions, the court has drawn a tight procedural framework for hospitals, forensic departments, and medical examiners. This not only addresses justice-delaying practices but also sends a message to healthcare professionals that their role in the justice delivery chain is not peripheral but pivotal.
The directive is also expected to impact how district hospitals, civil surgeons, and forensic medicine departments operate across Haryana. Already, the Health Department is under pressure to issue clarifications and internal circulars to ensure uniform adherence to the order. Senior police officers have welcomed the court’s stance, with some admitting off-record that delayed medical reports often derail investigations, especially in cases of rape, grievous hurt, custodial violence, and death in suspicious circumstances.
From a policy standpoint, this move might also catalyze a broader review of human resources and infrastructure in government hospitals. With many forensic departments functioning under-resourced and overburdened, doctors often handle both routine patients and legal casework simultaneously, leading to procedural fatigue and administrative delays. There is now a growing chorus for creating dedicated medico-legal wings within hospitals, with round-the-clock staffing, digital tracking of evidence reports, and interdepartmental coordination mechanisms that can plug existing gaps.
Victim rights advocates and civil society groups in Haryana have lauded the High Court’s order, calling it long overdue. For families fighting prolonged legal battles, delayed medical and forensic reports have always meant more than just postponed hearings—they have symbolized a system that does not prioritize truth or closure. In the Sonipat case and countless others, such delays not only traumatize the victim’s families but also empower the accused, often resulting in tampered evidence or bail applications filed in the absence of conclusive reports.
The High Court’s focus on time-bound procedures could also inspire reforms beyond Haryana. Other states where similar issues persist—such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan—may now look to this as a precedent in aligning healthcare and justice more efficiently. The judgment is being described by some legal commentators as a landmark moment in medical jurisprudence, where the traditional view of doctors as mere observers in criminal cases is being upgraded to that of legal stakeholders with binding responsibilities.
As the directive begins to trickle down through government channels, its real test will lie in compliance and enforcement. Whether district-level medical officers, forensic analysts, and administrative heads treat this as a procedural tightening or a moral call to action will shape its ultimate impact. But for now, the High Court has laid down a decisive marker: in the architecture of justice, time is not a luxury—it is an obligation.
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