Frame guidelines over unclaimed dead bodies, human rights panel recommends Tamil Nadu government

SHRC recommends Tamil Nadu government to frame guidelines for unclaimed dead bodies, emphasizing posthumous rights and human dignity.

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Tuesday (May 6, 2025) recommended the Tamil Nadu government to frame guidelines over unclaimed dead bodies across the State and for paying last tributes to them.

SHRC member V. Kannadasan also recommended the State government for sanctioning sufficient funds to authorities in all the Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, town and village panchayats in this regard.

The Commission’s recommendation was made in its order on a newspaper report published in April 2018, which it took suo motu cognisance. According to the report, a dead body was carried in garbage cart in Sholingar town panchayat in Ranipet district.

After having considered all the records, the Commission said that it was categorically established that it was due to the negligence on the part of then Special Sub Inspector of Police (since dead) attached to Sholinghur police station.

“The concept of human rights primarily focuses on the rights and dignity of living individuals. However, the rights of deceased persons can also be approached from various angles within human rights frameworks,” the Commission said.

It further underlined the significance of posthumous rights, rights of the deceased in legal contexts, cultural and religious practices, psychological impact on the living, human rights violations, among others.

The Commission also held that guidelines should be issued to all the Corporations, Municipalities, Town Panchayats and Village Panchayats in this regard.