Section 55 in Punjab Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2014
55. Death of a juvenile or child.
- On the occurrence of any case of death or suicide in an institution the procedure to be adopted shall be as under : -(a)in the event of an unnatural death or suicide of a juvenile or child in an institution, it is imperative on the part of the institution to ensure that an inquest and post-mortem examination is held at the earliest;(b)in case of natural death or due to illness of a juvenile or child, the Officer-in-charge shall obtain a report of the Medical Officer stating the cause of death and a written intimation about the death shall be given immediately to the nearest Police Station, the Board or Committee, the National or State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, District Child Protection Unit or State Child Protection Unit or any other concerned authority and the parents or guardians or relatives of the juvenile or child;(c)whenever a sudden or violent death or death from suicide or accident takes place, immediate information shall be given by the caseworker or probation officer or welfare officer to the Officer-in- Charge and the Medical Officer, and the Officer-in-Charge shall immediately inform the nearest police station, Board or Committee and parents or guardians or relatives of the deceased juvenile or child;(d)if a juvenile or child dies within twenty four hours of his admission to the institution, the Officer-in-charge of the institution shall report the matter to the Officer-in-charge of the Police Station having jurisdiction and the District Medical Officer or the nearest Government Hospital, as the case may be, and the parents or guardians or relatives of such juvenile or child without delay;(e)the Officer-in-charge shall also immediately give intimation to the nearest Magistrate empowered to hold inquests and to the Board or the Committee, as the case may be;(f)the Officer-in-Charge and the Medical Officer at the institution shall record the circumstances of the death of the juvenile or child and send a report to the concerned Magistrate, the Officer-incharge of the police station, having jurisdiction, the Committee and the District Medical Officer or the nearest Government hospital where the dead body of the juvenile or child is sent for examination, inspection and determination of the cause of death, and the Officerincharge and the Medical Officer shall also record in writing their views on the cause of the death if any, and submit it to the concerned Magistrate and the Officer-in-charge of the police station, having jurisdiction;(g)the Officer-in-charge and the Medical Officer shall make themselves available for any inquiries initiated by the police or the Magistrate concerning the cause of death and other details regarding such juvenile or child; and(h)as soon as the inquest is held, the body shall be handed over to the parents or guardian or relatives or in the absence of any claimant, the last rituals shall be performed under the supervision of the officer-in-charge in accordance with the known religion of the juvenile or child.
