Rajasthan High Court Mandates Digital Medico-Legal Reports From Feb 2026 After Finding Post-Mortem Report 'Unreadable'

The bench of Justice Ravi Chirania was hearing a bail application filed by the applicant who was accused in the murder case of his brother, wherein serious difficulty was faced by the Court in understanding the Post-Mortem Report.

In this light, it was opined that despite the country having a robust digital system in place, the medical reports were prepared by hand in a casual and negligent manner which were illegible and incomprehensible.

The Court highlighted the successful implementation of the Software in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, and stated that even after more than 13 years, state of Rajasthan had failed to implement the same.

The Court was informed by the Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, that even though from January 2025, the State had started using this software, it was not fully operational. Further, it was stated that in cases where police did not make requests for a digital report, the reports were prepared by hand only. The Court observed,

“The above statement is highly shocking and surprising. Leaving option with the police officials/Investigating Officers of the respective cases for preparation of the report through the software is highly unacceptable. The purpose for which software was first time prepared by NIC, Haryana under the order of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana has been frustrated by the State by leaving the option with the police officials including the Investigating Officers in preparation of reports.”

In this background, the following directions were issued to the State Government:

• Issuance of a detailed notification within 15 days for preparation of all medico legal reports through the Software, by all doctors of Government and private establishments with effect from February 1, 2026.
• Issuance of circulars to all police officials, investigating agencies and officers, to generate request for preparation of such medical legal reports, in all cases, though CCTNS. In no case the reports shall be prepared by hand after February 1, 2026. In case of non-compliance, investigating officer, the Superintendent of police to be personally responsible.
• Till the system is completely put in place, all reports to be prepared in capital letters with clean and legible handwriting and would be accompanied with a typed copy of the document.
• Ensuring issuance of new formats for such reports, within 10 days, having sufficient space and extra columns, to prevent any overlapping or criss-crossing.
• Ensuring that all reports are uploaded with a proper QR to check its authenticity and details of the case for which it was prepared.
• All reports to contain specific opinion and conclusion of the pathologist with physical signatures about the completion of the test as conducted.
• For fair and timely investigation, State to ensure that all samples collected during investigation must be deposited for forensic report in FSL, maximum 5 days from the date of collection and shall not remain in police station thereafter.
• Sending or receiving of sample in FSL must be communicated with self-generated E-mails and SMS on designated e-mails, mobile number of concerned IO.
• Ensuring that in the Software, IO/authorized person must be able to track the status of sample submitted for forensic report in FSL.
• Ensuring that while preparing and storing the reports in the Software, no data was shared with any unauthorized person. The data must be secured and protected from any unauthorized access, leakage, sharing etc, through digital or other means.
• Adequate infrastructure to be provided for implementation of these directions.

The Court also directed the State to submit a compliance report within 45 days of the order that shall contain “affidavit of all CMHOs, Head/Superintendent of all Government Hospitals, authorised person/Head of all private hospitals, clinics, other establishment etc. regarding knowledge of the directions as issued above and steps, if required, taken for compliance.”

Further, it was stated that the notification/circular shall specifically mention that in case preparation of reports was by hand and not the Software, after February 1, 2026, and the same was noted in any case, it would lead to disciplinary action under the Rajasthan Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1958, against the responsible government doctor and other responsible government officials and authorized persons of private establishment.

Title: Mukesh Kumar v State of Rajasthan

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Raj) 391

Counsel for Petitioners: Mr. S.R. Godara

Counsel for Respondents: Mr. Deepak Choudhary, Addl. Advocate General cum GA; Mr. Urja Ram Kalbi, Public Prosecutor; Mr. Vineet Jain, Sr. Advocate, assisted by Mr. Pravin Vyas; Mr. Dhirendra Singh Champawat, Sr. Advocate assisted by Mr. Jagdish Singh; Ms. Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary to Government, Medical & Health & Family Welfare, through VC; Mr. Ambrish Kumar, Principal Secretary, Medical Education Department, through VC