Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the dean Mohakumaramangalam government hospital, Salem, to constitute a team of three doctors, one of whom shall be Dr P. Sampath Kumar, vice principal, head of department of forensic department, Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai, to conduct the postmortem on the body of a 22-year-old engineer, allegedly abducted and done to death by a group of people in the name of honour killing in Salem district on June 24.
Passing interim orders on the habeas corpus petition filed by advocate Parthiban, a friend of the deceased Gokul Raj, a division bench comprising justices S. Tamilvanan and C. T. Selvam said the postmortem shall be video-graphed and the postmortem report shall be kept in a sealed cover and forwarded to the registrar general of this court. The bench said R. Sankarasubbu, counsel for the petitioner, drew the attention of this court to the photos available in various newspapers, wherein the dead body was seen without head, nearby the railway track. The head portion seems to be smashed.
He further submits that it could not be an accident or suicidal death but it was a deliberate murder committed on account of the love affair of the deceased (a Dalit), who was an engineer, with a girl belonging to another community (Caste Hindu).
“It was also brought to our notice that the girl, who had a love affair with the boy informed that the boy had been abducted and done to death by a group of persons in the name of honour killing. At this stage, we need not go in depth about the occurrence. However, prima facie, the photos available would show that there is a possibility of death being homicidal one.
In the aforesaid circumstances, having considered the averments made in the affidavit, we find it just and reasonable to direct the dean, Mohankumaramangalam government hospital to conduct the postmortem by a team of government doctors and one should be of a petitioner’s choice, who is a reputed doctor. Further, we are of the considered view that allowing this application will avoid allegations against the doctors in respect of postmortem”, the bench added.
