New Delhi, September 19 (IANS) National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of a media report that many unclaimed dead bodies are allegedly due to lack of space for their funeral in Morchery of Raipur District Hospital in Chhattisgarh.
The report said that an NGO is performing the last rites, while three unidentified bodies have not been sent for post -mortem examinations since last week.
Note the report, the top human rights body noticed that the material, if correct, increases serious concerns of human rights violations, as the dead are also worth behaving with dignity and according to their religion.
The NHRC has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh, demanding a detailed report on the case within two weeks.
The Commission had earlier issued an advice in 2021, emphasizing the need to maintain dignity and protect the rights of the dead. It was noted that under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, life, fair treatment and right to dignity extends not only to living persons but also to their dead body.
According to the press report, the district administration had allotted three acres of land for the funeral of unclaimed bodies about three years ago, where more than 800 unclaimed bodies were cremated by the NGOs.
The land can be reused after the soil is replenished, but no action has been taken by the administration so far.
Established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, NHRC, an autonomous statutory body, is an avatar of India’s concern for promotion and protection of human rights.
Its primary role is to protect and promote human rights, which are defined as life, freedom, equality, and dignity of individuals guaranteed by the Constitution or dignity of individuals applied by courts in India.
The apex human rights body has the power to take action on the basis of media reports, public knowledge or other sources without receiving a formal complaint of human rights violations.
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