Bhubaneswar: In a move to strengthen support for survivors of sexual assault, the Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) department directed all government and private doctors as well as registered medical practitioners to conduct medical examinations of rape or attempted rape victims under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
Shalini Pandit, Commissioner-cum-Secretary H&FW department, issued a notification in this regard.
“Under Section 184 of the BNSS, 2023, every victim woman with whom rape is alleged or attempted to have been committed or attempted shall be examined by a doctor / medical practitioner of the hospitals, public or private, whether run by the Central government, state government, local bodies or any other person with the consent of such woman or any person competent to give such consent on her behalf”, read the notification.
The Health Department also issued a notification for doctors to issue medical examination reports of the rape victims within seven days as per the provision of the new laws.
With the issuance of this order, medical practitioners are now required to prioritize the examination of rape and attempted rape victims, with no delays allowed, according to a new notification. The directive ensures that survivors of sexual assault receive prompt medical attention and support, without any unnecessary delays or obstacles.
“Any victim of rape against whom rape is alleged or attempted to have been committed or attempted, produced before the doctor by a police officer shall be medically examined forthwith without any undue delay. The delay, if any and the reasons thereof shall be mentioned in the register and in the examination report. The exact time of commencement and completion of the examination shall also be noted in the report”, the letter added.
“Non-compliance of the above legal provisions may entail in legal prosecution,” the notification stated.
