Exhumation (unearths or disclosed of grave):

When any unnatural death is happened and dead body is put into earth to conceal the causes of death then examination of dead body is required to determine the causes of death and to fix the liability to accused. Grave is disclosed and dead body is taken and examined for the suspicion of a death because of poisoning or any other foul play.

Order of exhumation:
Only District Magistrate, Coroner, or Sub-Divisional Magistrate can pass such order for the disclosure of grave. A police officer is not authorized to pass such orders. Exhumation is conducted during the presence of Magistrate and not in the presence of police officer. This function can be performed only day light. To start work in evening or night is prohibited. Preferable time for the exhumation is before the commencement of body decomposition. In hot climatic conditions, dead body undergoes decomposition soon. As the time passes, required results become quite difficult.

Time limit for exhumation:
Pakistan and England do not follow any time limit for the purpose of exhumation. But other countries, such as:

1.      France allows 10 years,

2.      Scotland provides 20 years, and

3.      Germany permits 30 years for the disclosure of grave.