Priya Gour
Published on: 1st September, 2022 at 20:32 IST
The Allahabad High Court bench, comprising of Justices Rajan Roy and Jaspreet Singh, called for a trial progress report from the CBI in the Hathras Gang Rape and Murder case. It was along with a status report from the Trial Court through the District Judge.
The High Court had directed the UP government on August 5, 2022, to implement its scheme for the cremation of dead bodies throughout the state and give it wide publicity, such as at police stations, hospitals, primary health centres, district headquarters, tehsil, collectorate, etc.
The state government was also directed to sensitise its officers and employees involved in such cremations, which should be conducted in a dignified manner.
To this, the UP government submitted before the Court that directions for the dignified cremation of dead bodies were under process and would be executed soon.
Earlier, the High Court had taken up the Hathras rape and cremation case on a Suo-Moto basis. It was the subject of a decent and dignified cremation of the deceased. During this, the state government was given directions to come up with an SOP so that even a dead person is given respect and dignity over the treatment of his body. It should be in the same manner as if he were alive, in accordance with his tradition, culture, and religion.
“These rights are not only for the deceased but also for their family members also have a right to perform last rites as per religious traditions. Right to a decent burial has been held to be commensurate with the dignity of the individual and this has been reiterated as a recognised facet of the right to Page No. 2 life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.”
The bench stated that the right to a dignified life under Article 21 of the Constitution is available even to someone who is dead.
Therefore, the sessions court has been directed to submit the report before the next trial date, that is, September 20th, 2022.
