(1) When a person is arrested on a charge of committing an offence of such a nature and alleged to have been committed under such circumstances that there are reasonable grounds for believing that an examination of his person will afford evidence as to the commission of an offence, it shall be lawful for a registered medical practitioner, acting at the request of a police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector, and for any person acting in good faith in his aid and under his direction, to make such an examination of the person arrested as is reasonably necessary in order to ascertain the facts which may afford such evidence, and to use such force as is reasonably necessary for that purpose.
(2) Whenever the person of a female is to be examined under this section, the examination shall be made only by, or under the supervision of, a female registered medical practitioner.
1[Explanation.--In this section and in sections 53A and 54,--
(a) "examination" shall include the examination of blood, blood stains, semen,
swabs in case of sexual offences, sputum and sweat, hair samples and finger nail
clippings by the use of modern and scientific techniques including DNA profiling
and such other tests which the registered medical practitioner thinks necessary
in a particular case;
(b) "registered medical practitioner" means a medical practitioner who possesses any medical qualification as defined in clause (h) of section 2 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956) and whose name has been entered in a State Medical Register.]
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1 Subs. by Act 25 of 2005, s. 8, for the Explanation (w.e.f. 23-6-2006).
Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)
50A CrPC Obligation of person making arrest to inform about the arrest, etc., to a nominated person
51 CrPC Search of arrested person
52 CrPC Power to seize offensive weapons
53 CrPC Examination of accused by medical practitioner at the request of police officer
53A CrPC Examination of person accused of rape by medical practitioner
54 CrPC Examination of arrested person by medical officer
54A CrPC Identification of person arrested
55 CrPC Procedure when police officer deputes subordinate to arrest without warrant
55A CrPC Health and safety of arrested person
56 CrPC Person arrested to be taken before Magistrate or officer in charge of police station
57 CrPC Person arrested not to be detained more than twenty-four hours
58 CrPC Police to report apprehensions