Meghalaya HC directs district magistrate to comply with order on setting up of crematoriums within 4 weeks

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 5, 2025

The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday has directed the district magistrate to comply with its order within four weeks on the issue of setting up of crematoriums.

In its order passed after hearing a PIL, the bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh “We direct the District Magistrate to immediately comply with our order dated 25th October, 2024 within four weeks from date.”

The court in its order dated October 25, 2024 had asked the Amicus Curiae and the District Magistrate to sit with the two communities (Khasi-Jaintia indigenous people and Hindu people) and convince them to agree to the proposal of their dead being cremated in one crematorium with different timings for cremation of members of different communities, if the need so arose.

It has noted, “Their rights and rituals accompanying the funeral are different but the procedure for disposing of the dead body is the same, by cremation. The indigenous Khasi and Jaintia people are reluctant to share a crematorium with the Hindus.The problem is lack of adequate number of crematoria in a large area of the State, as a result of which, dead bodies have to be carried a long distance to be cremated.”

In its earlier order, the court had also noted that the government had proposed to set up new electric hybrid crematoria in New Shillong, Tura, Jowai and Nongpoh and sanctioned or completed projects at Syllei -Iawkein, Nongstoin, Khlieh Tyrshi village, Jowai, West Jaint ia Hills and Jhalupara in Shillong.

“But, none was functional. Apparently, till now, little or no progress has been made,” it stated.