HC seeks report on 243 unclaimed bodies in govt mortuaries

Chennai

A division bench comprising Justice M Sathaynanrayanan and Justice Anita Sumanth sought the additional report after perusing the report dated May 20 and citing the deaths due to COVID-19.

“In the light of the statutory provisions and various guidelines, it is obligatory on the part of the concerned authority to bury the dead body pertaining to medico-legal cases as well as non-medico legal cases within the stipulated time. It is very important for the reason that on account of COVID-19, deaths are also taking place and as such, this court requires additional status report as to the disposal of the dead bodies,” the bench said, posting the plea for further hearing to June 25.

The status report was in response to a plea filed Jeevathma Kaingariya Trust in West Mambalam, which claimed that the unclaimed/unidentified bodies lying in mortuaries of various government hospitals shall be cremated in the crematoriums established by the Corporation free of cost.

The counsel appearing for the trust pointed out that proper and sufficient mechanism has not been put in place for the disposal of the bodies on account of the pandemic. He further pointed out that the unclaimed bodies, including the non-medical cases, should to be buried with honour.

The bench also recorded the submission made in the status report filed by the Director General of Police that the word or expression ‘’person’’ in Article 21 of the Constitution of India included a dead person in a limited sense, and right to live and dignity should be extended in such a manner that his dead body was given respect which he would have deserved had he been alive.