114. Photographs and Finger prints of unidentified deadbodies. (Section 3, Bengal Act II of 1866) (Section 9, Bengal Act IV of 1866). - (a) Unidentified deadbodies shall whenever possible be photographed with a view to tracing their identity. A photographer will be deputed by the Detective Department on requisitions received from a police station.
(b)When it is necessary to photograph an unidentified deadbody the whole body shall be included in the photo, the body being placed in such a position that all scars and similar marks of identification are clearly visible. This is especially important in cases where the features are in any way disfigured. Distinguishing marks on the body are much surer means of identification than articles of clothing, and as they disappear with the corpse, a full and accurate record of them is necessary.(c)Whenever an unidentified deadbody is photographed, particulars of the subject, as far as they are known, shall be clearly written on the back of the photo.(d)When the identity of a person killed by accident or who met with death under suspicious circumstances, or in the act of committing dacoities, burglaries or any of her offence has not been satisfactorily established, the Investigating Officer shall have his finger prints taken by an officer of the Finger Prints Section.(e)Ordinarily there is not much difficulty in taking the impressions from the fingers of a deadbody; 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 examination shall be asked to remove the skin from the fingers. The pieces of skin from the ten digits shall then be carefully enclosed in separate numbered envelopes and sent to the Finger Prints Section for examination.(f)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 shall certify by the signature on the search slip that the impressions have been correctly taken in his presence. The supervising officer shall further note in the remarks column of the search slip the condition of the body whether in an advanced stage of decomposition or otherwise.(g)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.
