MLC reports by doctors must be readable: High Court

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, July 6

The HP High Court today directed the Director (Health Services) to issue instructions/ advisory to doctor(s) to record their observations, findings and opinions in medico-legal cases (MLCs) and other documents of medical examination in such a manner that “they are at least readable so as to construe the meaning thereof and enable the court as well as others involved in the adjudication of MLCs to understand the correct meaning of the information in such documents”. Justice Vivek Singh Thakur passed the order while dealing with a criminal case.

Justice Thakur observed that it was difficult not only for the court, but also for the Advocate General as well as the police officer present in the court to read the observations and findings recorded by the doctors in all MLCs.

The Judge stated, “The MLCs of the complainants as well as the accused persons, available in the police records, were written in such a manner that it was not possible to read these and make out anything about the injuries recorded by the doctors and their opinions. These MLCs appeared to be incomplete in all respects and were not readable even after many attempts. Therefore, to avoid such a situation, causing wastage of time and energy, it is necessary to issue instructions/ advisory in this regard”.