Power to screen or X-ray bodies of suspected persons for detecting secreted goods [Section 103] :

(a) Detention of the person referred to in section 100(2): Where the proper officer has reason to believe that any person referred to in sub-section (2) of section 100 has any goods liable to confiscation secreted INSIDE HIS BODY, he may detain such person and produce him without unnecessary delay before the nearest magistrate [Sub-section (1)].

(b) Magistrate may discharge the person: A magistrate before whom any person is brought under sub-section (1) shall, if he sees no reasonable ground for believing that such person has any such goods secreted inside his body, forthwith discharge such person [Subsection (2)].

(c) Magistrate may order to X-ray the body of such person: Where any such magistrate has reasonable ground for believing that such person has any such goods secreted inside his body and the magistrate is satisfied that for the purpose of discovering such goods it is necessary to have the body of such person screened or X-rayed, he may make an order to that effect [Sub-section (3)].

Hence, a person [referred to in section 100(2)] can be screened/X-rayed only if he is suspected to have secreted any goods INSIDE HIS BODY. Otherwise, he can only be searched.

(d) Person to be X-rayed to be taken before radiologist: Where a magistrate has made any order under sub-section (3), in relation to any person, the proper officer shall, as soon as practicable, take such person before a radiologist possessing qualifications recognized by the Central Government for the purpose of this section, and such person shall allow the radiologist to screen or X-ray his body [Sub-section (4)].

(e) Radiologist shall forward report to magistrate: A radiologist before whom any person is brought under sub-section (4) shall, after screening or X-raying the body of such person, forward his report, together with any X-ray pictures taken by him, to the magistrate without unnecessary delay [Sub-section (5)].

(f) Magistrate may direct to bring out such goods: Where on receipt of a report from a radiologist under sub-section (5) or otherwise, the magistrate is satisfied that any person has any goods liable to confiscation secreted inside his body, he may direct that suitable action for bringing out such goods be taken on the advice and under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner and such person shall be bound to comply with such direction.

However, in the case of a female no such action shall be taken except on the advice and under the supervision of a female registered medical practitioner [Sub-section (6)].

Where any person is brought before a magistrate under this section, such magistrate may for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this section order such person to be kept in such custody and for such period as he may direct [Sub-section (7)].

(g) No screening if person himself admits that goods are secreted in his body: Nothing in this section shall apply to any person referred to in sub-section (1), who admits that goods liable to confiscation are secreted inside his body, and who voluntarily submit s himself for suitable action being taken for bringing out such goods [Sub-section (8)].

Meaning of registered medical practitioner “Registered medical practitioner” means any person who holds a qualification granted by an authority specified in the Schedule to the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916, or notified under section 3 of that Act, or by an authority specified in any of the Schedules to the I ndian Medical Council Act, 1956.