Lucknow. Demonstrating by placing dead bodies on the road will now be punishable in the state. In the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) prepared for the respectable cremation of a dead body, strict rules have been set for the demonstration by the relatives or any organization keeping the dead body on the road. This will be considered as an insult to the dead body and legal action will be taken against the people concerned. After the controversy over the last rites of the victim’s body in the Hathras incident, the Home Department has prepared the SOP on the instructions of the High Court.
Prohibition of keeping dead body in the middle of the way
According to the SOP, now if the relatives, any organization or group create obstruction by placing the dead body on the road or in a public place, then it will be considered as an insult to the dead body. In such a case, strict legal action will be taken against the persons concerned. While handing over the dead body to the family, written consent will also be obtained from them that they will bring the dead body directly from the post-mortem house to the home and take it directly to the funeral site after the customs. By keeping the dead body anywhere in the middle of the road, we will not picketing, gathering, jamming or with the help of any organization.
Panchnama will be done by making a punch
According to the SOP, the cremation of the dead bodies will be done by the relatives only. In view of the possibility of refusal to accept a dead body, delay or other reasons, or the possibility of deterioration of the body or public order, the administrative officers will first try to convince the relatives through distinguished citizens. In case the matter does not work out, a group of five eminent persons will be formed. A person from the community of the deceased will be included in it and Panchnama will be prepared by making a Panch.
The entire situation will be mentioned in the Panchnama. The Panchnama will then be made available to a four-member committee headed by the Deputy District Magistrate. The committee will consist of the CO, SO of the concerned area and any officer of the revenue department available on the spot. If the committee feels that public order can be disturbed due to non-cremation, then it will conduct the last rites of the dead body with full respect with customs on the instructions of the DM and will give a certificate of this action to the DM.
Funeral will be videography at night
To perform the last rites of a dead body at night, the permission of the relative will be necessary. The end-to-end videography and photography of the funeral will be done and it will be kept safe. The messages of all the mediums to be sent between the administrative officers from the PM House till the funeral of the dead body will also be kept safe for one year.
In case any legal process is initiated in the matter, the messages will be preserved till its disposal. It has also been said that in case the body is sent by ambulance or autopsy after post-mortem, at least two members of the family must be allowed to sit in it. Detailed instructions have also been given regarding identification and burial of unclaimed dead bodies.