‘Provide time for family to bury COVID victims’

A division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha offered the direction on a suo motu PIL after people prevented the burial of Dr. Simon Hercules, who died of COVID in April. However, the bench insisted that the local police should also be informed to prevent violence at burial/cremation grounds.The bench also sought for details of the protocol and whether adequate time is being provided for such burials. The counsel appearing for Dr Simon’s wife had submitted that it was unfortunate that the government had rushed to bury the body throwing all religious practice to wind.