• Exhumation is the removal of a corpse from the earth. The grave must be identified by relatives and the official in charge of the graveyard.
• The word exhumation literally means ‘out of ground.’ The word ‘exhumation’ comes from Latin words ‘ex’ meaning ‘out of’, and ‘humus‘, meaning ‘ground’ The dead body can only be exhumed when there is a written order from executive magistrate or Higher Court of Law of the land.
• Exhumation is necessary, when the first post–mortem was inadequate, and it is thought that a second postmortem may bring some more facts to light means exhumation combined with doing a second meticulous postmortem. After exhumation, the postmortem examination must be done in a well-equipped morgue only and preferably in presence of first team of doctors who have already examined the body.
• In case of exhumation the concerned police official should approach the appropriate government hospital in writing along with the order of exhumation to constitute a medical board of at least three qualified and experienced doctors with written clarity of objectives of postmortem examination. Material found in exhumation/spot and further examination should be done as per law.
• Resting places and the norm of many cultures is that the dead should not be disturbed. However, for a variety of reasons, they are disturbed through the process of exhumation.
(Reference Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Volume 2, Number 2, July-December 2001)
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