Covid-19 Deaths: Delhi High Court Seeks Reply On Pleas For Increasing Crematoriums/ Burial Grounds

The Delhi High Court today directed the concerned authorities to file their replies to a batch of petitions seeking directions for dignified burial/cremation of dead bodies in wake of Covid-19.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Jyoti Singh has granted time till September 6, for filing of a fresh status report/ counter affidavit in the matter.

The development comes after Advocate Snigdha Singh, appearing for one of the Petitioners, told the Court that there are "glaring irregularities" in the data of crematoriums/ burial grounds provided by the Respondents.

She further stated that though the issue is not currently alive due to decline in the number of Covid-deaths, it is essential that adequate steps are taken given the threat of a potential third wave.  

The Court was hearing a petition filed by Advocate Pratyush Prasanna against the State of NCT of Delhi, Union of India, National Disaster Management Authority and others seeking right to die with dignity for Covid casualties. The petition was filed on May 1, when the second wave of Covid-19 was at its peak. Notices on the plea were issued on May 4.

Prasanna had claimed that during the second wave, Delhi had turned into a "graveyard" and given the lack of burial/ cremation grounds, people were being deprived of performing last rites and rituals of their loved ones. He highlighted that crematoriums at various places in Delhi were stretched to maximum and therefore sought directions for increasing the number of mortuaries, crematoriums across Delhi.

He also sought alternative arrangements by converting parks, fields, stadiums etc. as cremation site.

Another plea, filed by one Jaswinder Singh Jolly through Advocates Naginder Benipal and Harpreet Singh Hora also sought designation of additional cremation grounds.

Both the cases have been tagged together. The matter will now be heard on September 6.

Advocate SK Tripathi appeared for Delhi Govt. Divya Prakash Pande appeared for Municipal Corporation.

Case Title: Pratyush Prasanna v. State NCT of Delhi