"Serious Problem...": Supreme Court On Bodies Found Floating In Ganga

The petitioner moved the top court for help in framing policies to protect the rights of the dead, including action against overcharging for cremating those who died of Covid

The grisly sight of dead bodies floating on the Ganga - a horrific all-too-common sight last month during the peak of the second Covid wave - is a "serious problem", the Supreme Court said on Monday, while hearing a petition on the framing of policies to protect the rights of the dead. However, the two-member bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta directed the petitioner to approach the NHRC, which has already issued some directions in this regard. "Go before the National Human Rights Commission. How many forums can you approach? It is a serious problem... we know. You referred to NHRC recommendations... go to NHRC," it said. The petitioner had moved the top court for help in framing policies to protect the rights of the dead, including action against overcharging for cremating those who died of COVID-19.