History of Forensic Medicine of India with Reference to Crime and Punishments during British Period (1757 To 1947)

The British political ascendency in India began after the battle of Plassey in1757 and ended in 1947. During their rule (1757 to1947), Forensic medicine was an evolving subject in India. Most Indians were poor, illiterate, and orthodox, with low morals that bread-need, greed, lust, rage and revenge. Such a society, though timid and gentle in appearance outwardly, was ripe for committing crimes-of passion, theft, robbery and religious. Perjury, impersonation, extreme forms of torture, child stealing for prostitution, child killing for their ornaments, murder of women and elderly men, assassination, arson, adultery, rape, unnatural sex offences and criminal abortion were the leading crimes of the day. The means availed by the delinquent included drugging, poisoning, strangulation and use of sword. Deception tactics, concealing bodies, disposal of bodies by burning, throwing into water bodies etc… were employed to avoid detection. This rich haul of intricate crimes and the punitive actions of the British including evolution of forensic medicine is the subject of our learning. This history is divided into two periods:

1757 to 1857 AD (Company rule)

1858 to 1947AD (Crown rule)