38.6c New Delhi, India, Saturday, July 26, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Cant keep the pot boiling over dead bodies, Supreme Court issues directions for final rites in Manipur

By LAWSTREET NEWS NETWORK      29 November, 2023 11:16 AM      0 Comments
Cant keep the pot boiling over dead bodies Supreme Court issues directions for final rites in Manipur

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Manipur government to ensure burial or cremation of all corpses, lying in mortuaries, including 88 bodies identified but not claimed, while making it categorical that it will not allow attempts to keep the pot boiling over dead bodies.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, for one of the petitioners, said, We want to know the details of the nine sites identified by the government for the burial of bodies.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the Manipur government, questioned Gonsalves, who are we?

He claimed that next of kin of the identified bodies are willing to claim them but civil society organisations are fomenting trouble.

Gonsalves said he was representing the next of kin.

Mehta said he was objecting to organisations with vested interest.

Upon this, a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra observed that he cannot accept an obstructionist approach against the burial of bodies.

The bench said it will not allow attempts to keep the pot boiling" over dead bodies.

The SC-appointed committee had reported that among 175 bodies in mortuaries, 169 were identified 81 claimed, 88 identified but not claimed.  

Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, for another petitioner, asked the bench to ensure that the bodies are buried with dignity as per the customary or religious practices and DNA samples of bodies should be stored as evidence in the criminal trials.

Mehta, however, asked the bench to direct the organisations not to interfere with the burial of the bodies.

The court pointed out that the dead bodies cannot remain in mortuaries for an indefinite period.

It directed that last rites can be performed by family members for identified and claimed bodies at any of the nine sites without any hindrance by any other parties.

While issuing a slew of directions, the bench said either the families can claim them or the state will go ahead as per the municipal law.

The court also said the state authorities will intimate the next of kin of the identified bodies, which have already been claimed, about the sites and this process should be completed on or before December 4.

With regard to the bodies which have been identified but not claimed, the bench asked the state administration to issue a communication to the next of kin on or before Monday intimating them that they are permitted to carry out the last rites together with requisite religious observances within a period of one week.

The bench allowed that state to carry out burial/cremation of unidentified bodies with due observance of religious rites.

The court said the Collector and the Superintendent of Police (SP) would be at liberty to take all appropriate steps for maintenance of law and order so as to ensure that the burial/cremation takes place in an orderly manner.

The bench said in the event that DNA samples have not been drawn at the stage when the autopsies were conducted, the state shall ensure drawing of such samples before the process of burial/cremation takes place.

The court also allowed the state government to issue a public notice indicating that if bodies, which are identified, are not claimed within a period of one week from the date of issuance of the notice, the state shall carry out the last rites.

The court scheduled the matter for further hearing on December 4, regarding the issues raised in the committees report about acceptance of ex-gratia to kin of the victims.

The apex court-appointed committee, in a report, said that the state NGOs are preventing cremation of 88 bodies preserved in Imphal mortuaries, and obstructing acceptance of ex-gratia by kin. 
 



Share this article:

About:

Explore Comprehensive Legal Reporting with LawStreet Journal: Your Go-To Source for Supreme Court an...Read more

Follow:
TwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS

allegations-against-rahul-gandhi-indicated-deliberate-spreading-of-hatred-up-govt-tells-sc
Trending Executive
Allegations against Rahul Gandhi indicated deliberate spreading of hatred, UP govt tells SC

UP govt tells SC that Rahul Gandhi’s Savarkar remarks show deliberate hate-mongering; supports summons citing prima facie case under Sections 153A & 505 IPC.

25 July, 2025 01:45 PM
sc-raps-ktka-hc-on-manner-of-granting-bail-to-actor-darshan-in-murder-case
Trending Judiciary
SC raps Ktka HC on manner of granting bail to actor Darshan in murder case

SC slams Karnataka HC for granting bail to actor Darshan in murder case, calls reasoning flawed and akin to acquittal; reserves order on state’s plea.

25 July, 2025 01:49 PM

TOP STORIES

fight-your-battles-before-electorate-sc-to-ktka-govt-on-plea-against-quashing-fir-against-bjp-mp-tejaswi-surya
Trending Judiciary
'Fight your battles before electorate,' SC to Ktka govt on plea against quashing FIR against BJP MP Tejaswi Surya

SC tells K’taka to fight political battles at ballot, not court—rejects plea against HC order quashing FIR on Tejasvi Surya’s fake news tweet.

21 July, 2025 01:41 PM
sc-to-consider-on-july-22-president-reference-on-timeline-related-to-bills-passed-by-state-legislatures
Trending Judiciary
SC to consider on July 22 President reference on timeline related to Bills passed by State legislatures

SC to examine Presidential reference on July 22 over court’s power to set timelines for Governor, President on clearing state Bills.

21 July, 2025 01:46 PM
sc-issues-notice-to-centre-states-on-ashwini-upadhyays-pil-seeking-mandatory-disclosure-of-seller-details-under-consumer-protection-act
Trending Judiciary
SC Issues Notice To Centre, States on Ashwini Upadhyay’s PIL Seeking Mandatory Disclosure of Seller Details Under Consumer Protection Act

SC issues notice on Ashwini Upadhyay’s PIL seeking mandatory disclosure of seller details to protect consumers under Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

21 July, 2025 04:47 PM
let-political-battles-be-fought-in-electorate-sc-refuses-to-entertain-eds-plea-against-ktka-cms-wife-in-muda-scam
Trending Judiciary
'Let political battles be fought in electorate,' SC refuses to entertain ED's plea against Ktka CM's wife in MUDA scam

SC refuses to hear ED plea against K’taka CM’s wife in MUDA scam, says political battles must be fought in the electorate, not through agencies.

21 July, 2025 04:56 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email