HC directs action against obstruction of dead body management, curfew violation

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 17, 2020

The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday asked the state authorities to deal as per law against any person or dorbar shnong for obstructing cremation and burial of dead body and for violating curfew imposed to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

The interim order was passed by the bench comprising of Justice HS Thangkhiew and Justice W Diengdoh while hearing a PIL filed by the Meghalaya High Court Bar Association via video conferencing.

The Association has questioned the Wednesday’s incident that led to the gathering of a large crowd at Mawbah to oppose the cremation of the first COVID-19 patient.

Dr John L Sailo Ryntathiang, Director of Bethany hospital, was however laid to rest at the Riatsamthiah Presbyterian Church cemetery at Lawmali on Thursday. 

“That any person, local body/Durbar Shnong or organization which obstructs the state authorities in the control of the pandemic or any matter connected thereto, such as dead body management, cremation and burial shall be dealt with in accordance with law and cases to be registered under appropriate provisions of law,” the bench said.

The bench also asked the state authorities to strictly follow the guidelines on dead body management as prescribed by the Government of India and by the World Health Organization (WHO) such as the supply of PPE’s to the detailed staff, apart from notifying the same for the information of the general public for their sensitization.

It also asked the state authorities to sensitize the public especially where the cremation of burial grounds are situated to avoid any further unfortunate incident as had been witnessed on April 15.

“The State authorities to take stern action for enforcement of the Rule of Law, especially in the light of the said incidents on 15.04.2020 wherein public had broken the curfew and all social distancing norms, in coming out in protest against the proposed cremation,” it said.

Further, the bench also directed the State Health authorities to immediately ensure the testing of the primary contacts and also in the event, the same is not possible to be conducted immediately, to place the persons who have voluntarily come forward in quarantine, till such test has been conducted and to render adequate assistance as required.

It said the State authorities are to ensure that adequate assistance is rendered to the patients who are stranded in Bethany Hospital and also who are housed in the other quarantine facility and that adequate food and water be made available for which the help of the civil society can also be availed to procure the same for distribution.

That they are also to ensure that personnel are available with adequate personal protection to receive the food packets for distribution to the inmates.

“To adhere to the procedure of handling COVID-19 suspects and infected cases as contained in the protocol dated 25.03.2020,” it added 

Meanwhile, the next hearing on the matter has been fixed on April 24, for response by the petitioners on the status report and for further orders.