The case of dead bodies flowing in the rivers reached the Supreme Court, know what has been demanded in the PIL

Demand to conduct last rites by committee

Protect the banks of the Ganga by declaring it as a sensitive area

A public interest litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court in the case of dead bodies flowing in rivers.

In this petition, a demand of forming  a three-tier committee to honor the dead bodies and declaring the banks of the Ganges as ecologically sensitive areas to preserve them is sought. The petition has been filed in the apex court by advocate Vineet Jindal.

In this, the Central Government, National Mission for Clean Ganga, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Bihar State and Bihar Pollution Control Board have been made parties. The petition calls for directing the government for the formation of a committee at the Central, State and Panchayat or Municipal level.

These committees will conduct the last rites of the dead bodies with respect. Carcasses should be removed from the river banks and pits should be filled and the ecology of the banks should be restored. It has been said in the petition that burial of dead bodies on the banks of the river permanently destroys its ecological balance and affects its groundwater holding capacity. This is a violation of the principle of public trust which is part of the right to life found under Article 21 in the Constitution.

The petition, citing media reports, said that burying the bodies of corona-infected people along the river is polluting the drinking water of the residents around them. Due to this, there is a possibility of spreading the infection through water. People's right to health is being affected.

The petition also demanded that the government be ordered to ensure that the river bankers are provided with pure drinking water so that people are not forced to drink contaminated water. Where bodies have been found flowing in rivers, camps should be conducted and door-to-door checks should be done so that the corona does not spread. Door-to-door vaccination should be done in the villages along the river. Strict action should be taken on those who collect money in the name of conducting cremation or burial in the cemetery.

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Dr. Deepak Miglani, Email id.:- legalbuddy@gmail.com

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