Section 23 in The Railway (Notices of and Inquiries Into Accidents) Rules, 1998
23. Police investigation-when to be dispensed with-report on loss of life, grievous hurt, or damage to railway property.
(1)The Railway Police may make an investigation into the causes which led to any accident occurring in the course of working a railway and shall do so whenever-(a)any such accident is attended with loss of human life or with grievous hurt, or with serious damage to railway property of the value exceeding Rs. 25,00,000 or has prima facie been due to any criminal act or omission; or(b)the District Magistrate or the Magistrate appointed under rule 17 has given a direction under clause (c) of that rule:Provided that where, having regard to the nature of the accident, the Central Government has appointed a Commission of inquiry to inquire into it under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 (60 of 1952), or has appointed any other authority to inquire into it and for that purpose has made all or any of the provisions of the said Act applicable to that authority, or where a magisterial inquiry is being held under clause (a) or clause (b) or rule 17, the Railway Police shall not make an investigation under this rule, and, where they have already commenced their investigation shall not proceed further with it; and shall hand over the records or other documents in their possession relating to the investigation to such authority as may be specified by the Central Government in this behalf.(2)The Railway Police shall report, with as little delay as possible to the nearest Station Master, or where there is no Station Master, to the railway servant in charge of the section of the railway, on which the accident has occurred, every accident which may come to their notice occurring in the course of working a railway attended with loss of human life, or with grievous hurt or with serious damage to railway property of the value exceeding twenty-five lakh rupees or which has prima facie been due to any criminal act or omission.
