313. Submission of finger prints of unidentified dead bodies for search. [§ 12, Act V, 1861].
(a)Where the identity of a corpse, or of a person killed by accident or who met with death under suspicious circumstances or in the act of committing dacoities, burglaries or other offences has not been fully ascertained by ordinary inquiries, the finger prints should be taken on finger print slip form (B.P. Form No. 52) and sent to the Finger Print Bureau for search together with a search reference slip (B.P. Form No. 53).(b)Ordinarily there is not much difficulty in taking impressions from the fingers of a corpse, but it sometimes happens that the skin of the fingers is so contracted and wrinkled that decipherable prints cannot be obtained. In such cases the medical officer holding the post-mortem should be asked to remove the skin from the fingers. The pieces of skin from the ten digits should then be carefully enclosed in separate numbered envelopes and sent to the bureau for examination.(c)The finger prints of unidentified bodies should invariably be taken under the supervision of an officer not below the rank of a Sub-Inspector. Finger-prints of all digits must be taken, even if it is necessary to remove the skin of the fingers; and the supervising officer will certify by his signature on the search slip that the impressions have been correctly taken in his presence. The supervising officer will further note in the remarks column of the search slip the condition of the body, whether in an advanced stage of decomposition or otherwise.(d)The transmission of finger impressions of unidentified prisoners does not dispense with the necessity of the local enquiry as to the identity of prisoners ordered in regulations 454 and 458.(e)In all cases of murder or suspicious death, where an examination of the surroundings discloses, or may possibly subsequently disclose, anything in the shape of finger marks, blurred or otherwise, on any article which might reasonably be expected to have been touched by the victim, the finger prints of the deceased shall invariably be taken for purposes of comparison with the finger impressions found on such article (picked up at the scene of the murder).Finger impressions of deceased persons shall invariably be taken, as quickly as possible after the arrival of the investigating officer at the spot as owing to decomposition which is rapid in India, delay might render the taking of distinct impressions impossible.Note. - Duplicate finger-print slip shall be taken and submitted to the finger-print Bureau for search if it is found that for unavoidable reasons and after exercising all possible care the impressions of the subject remain blurred and indistinct.
