Medical Examination of Victims Is Evidence, Not a Routine Administrative Step

The primary legal purpose of conducting a medical examination of a child victim under Section 27 of the POCSO Act read with Section 164A CrPC is to scientifically collect critical biological evidence and document injuries with full respect for human dignity. Medical evidence serves as an impartial testament that bridges the victim's personal suffering with the objective requirement of legal proof in sexual assault prosecutions. However, this statutory medical examination cannot be transformed into a mandatory, routine requirement for conducting age determination tests at the inception of every investigation. The procedure for age determination is governed by legislative policy under Section 94 of the JJ Act and cannot be routinely replaced by medical age assessments. Ordering age determination tests as an automatic, routine exercise in every POCSO case violates clear legislative intent and places unnecessary burdens on child victims. Mandatory medical age tests should not be imposed when valid primary documentary proof of age is readily available to the investigating authorities. Medical opinion regarding age remains a secondary guiding factor to be utilized strictly in the absence of prescribed statutory documents. (The State of Uttar Pradesh v. Anurudh & Anr. | 2026 INSC 47)