These post-mortem centres, among six others, were set up after July 29, when the Coroner's Act, 1871, was repealed. The three existing Coroner's Courts at Cooper, Rajawadi and JJ hospitals were disbanded and replaced by the eight centres to streamline the system and facilitate post-mortems. These are located at JJ, St George's, GT, Nair, KEM, Sion, Rajawadi and Cooper hospitals.

However, the Nair and Sion Hospital centres have been turning bodies away between 7 pm and 9 am, hospital sources said. The Nair Hospital centre has been advising relatives of the deceased to take the bodies to the JJpost-mortem centre, which performs autopsies round-the-clock, sources reveal.On August 4, for instance, the body of Suresh Makwana, who died in a railway accident between Grant Road and Bombay Central stations, was thus routed to the JJ Hospital centre.

Sources point out that a 10-12 hour period between death and the autopsy could result in decomposition which could cause the loss of vital clues for investigations. In sensitive cases like murder, suicide or custody deaths, the post-mortems yield major clues to the investigating team.

Nair Hospital dean and director of municipal hospitals, Dr K D Nihalani told Express Newsline that lighting facilities at the Nair and Sion hospitals' autopsy rooms are inadequate. The staff have already been asked to submit their requirements. On occasion, both centres have been accepting bodies at night and keeping them in cold storage, Dr Nihalani added. This would prevent decomposition, she added.

Meanwhile, Additional Municipal Commissioner, G S Gill, says he wouldpropose a special allowance of Rs 250 per post-mortem for the doctor concerned. This could act as an incentive apart from expediting the work. However, doctors with state government hospitals are also demanding the same.Dr S M Patil, secretary, Maharashtra Association of Government Medical Officers, says a proposal to this effect had been submitted some time ago, but the government is yet to take a decision. A memorandum will be re-submitted to the government, he said.