NHRC issues notice to Bihar govt after man found carrying wife's dead body on motorcycle

PATNA: Taking cognizance of a man carrying body of his deceased wife on a motorcycle as

Purnia sadar hospital

failed to provide a mortuary van on June 2, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to

Bihar government

.

Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report on Monday that a man had to take the body of his deceased wife on a motor cycle as the authorities at the Purnia sadar hospital, where she died, failed to provide him a mortuary van, the NHRC issued a notice to the chief secretary calling for a report in the matter within four weeks.

Sources said the deceased

Susheela Devi

(50) died of illness at the hospital on June 2. The medical staff told her husband to arrange the transport on his own to carry the body of his wife, when he requested for a vehicle. "The man, a poor labourer, approached the driver of an ambulance, who demanded Rs. 2500, which he could not afford. Ultimately, with the help of his son, the man carried the body on a motor cycle holding it as a pillion rider," said a source.

The NHRC has observed that this is not the first instance which has come to its notice. "At several places across the country, such shameful incidents have taken place and the commission has also taken cognizance in some of these cases. It seems that the authorities are lacking on their part in understanding the sensitivity involved in such situations. This amounts to violation of right to life and dignity of the persons and is also indicative of negligence by the hospital administration and lack of infrastructure," said the letter of the commission.