Madras High Court Orders Post-Mortem of 26-Day-Old Infant

Rapid Summary

• Madras High Court Directive: the court ordered the Cuddalore Superintendent of Police to exhume the body of a 26-day-old infant and ascertain its cause of death.
• Background: The directive was issued during a habeas corpus petition filed by a woman seeking custody of her one-year-old son.
• Revelation: During the hearing, it emerged that the petitioner had given birth to another child, who allegedly died within 26 days. The mother initially denied this second birth.
• APP’s Submission:

– Documents confirmed the petitioner gave birth at Panruti Government Hospital on June 7, 2025.
– The infant fell ill and was declared brought dead by the hospital on July 4, but the mother reportedly removed and buried the body before a post-mortem coudl be conducted.

• Suspicion & Possible Cause of Death: Authorities raised suspicions about the circumstances surrounding the death. Milk aspiration was suggested as one possibility, subject to verification through an autopsy.
• High Court Order Details:

– A First Information Report (FIR) must be registered for suspicious death.
– Post-autopsy,burial should occur with dignity,allowing parental participation in funeral rites if desired.
– A post-mortem report is required by August 28, 2025.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The Madras High Court’s intervention reflects urgency in uncovering potential lapses or misconduct surrounding an infant’s untimely death. The petitioner’s initial denial about giving birth raises questions about transparency but also underscores possible familial or societal pressures influencing her actions.

This case highlights critical gaps in procedural integrity regarding deaths occurring under medical care-especially involving infants-and emphasizes why forensic analyses are essential for clarity and justice. While authorities suspect milk aspiration as a plausible cause, withholding post-mortem until now deepens uncertainty around accountability.

The incident requires thoughtful scrutiny not just legally but socially to understand any underlying complexities affecting maternal behavior after childbirth.Ensuring thorough investigations followed by actionable policy improvements may help prevent similar situations in rural healthcare setups.

Read more at Madras High Court rulings.