NHRC seeks response on steps taken to ensure dignity of dead from states

The NHRC has issued notices to all states and Union territories asking them to reply within six weeks on the extent to which they can ensure dignity of the dead by formulating a policy at their end or by way of administrative orders and their strict implementation, officials said on Tuesday.

The report from them also must specify steps that are taken or proposed to be taken regarding the issuance of directives to the private hospitals for "not withholding the dead bodies for non-payment of medical bills by the family members of the deceased", the National Human Rights Commission said in a statement.

The NHRC said it has taken suo motu cognisance of the issues related to the cremation and undignified treatment of dead bodies as raised by Jitendra Singh Shunty, a member of its Core Group of Human Rights Defenders.

For more than 27 years, he has been involved in free cremation of unclaimed dead bodies and related services, it said.

The NHRC has issued notices to "all state governments