The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Manipur government for making sure that a decent burial is given to the bodies of unclaimed people whop were killed in Manipur violence.
Taking a note of the fact that ever since May 2023, there has been no change in the situation and continued violence
Considering that the violence has been going on since May 2023, a bench comprising of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud along with Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra said that it would not be appropriate to keep the bodies indefinitely in the mortuaries.
The Court has thus directed that list of identified bodies should be duly intimated to the family and the last rites should be performed with dignity keeping to the religious norms associated.
It added that DNA samples should be drawn before the burial takes place since the criminal investigation is underway.
The Court passed the following seven directions to the State government:
All the next of kin of the bodies, which have been identified and claimed, would be permitted to carry out last rites at any of the identified nine burial sites without any interference by any party whatsoever.
In order to effectuate the direction, State shall intimate the next of kin about the nine burial sites and this shall be completed on or before next Monday.
Regarding unclaimed bodies, the State shall issue another communication to the next of kin that they are at liberty to carry out last rites together with religious rites at any of the burial/cremation site.
The State is permitted to carry out the last rites of unidentified bodies with due observance of religious rites.
The Collector and Superintendent of Police shall take appropriate steps for the maintenance of law and order.
In the event DNA samples are not taken when autopsy was done, State shall ensure drawing of such samples.
State can issue a public notice that if bodies are identified and not claimed then state shall carry out last rites as per religious rites.
The Court asked the State to take facilitative steps so that next of kin in relief camps can also access the bodies for identification and performance of last rites.
The Court directed the Chief Secretary to take appropriate action accordingly.
The Supreme Court was hearing a batch of pleas related to the ongoing outbreak of violence in Manipur.
The court had constituted an all-woman judicial committee headed by Justice (retired) Gita Mittal earlier to examine the probe being conducted into the violence.
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