New Delhi, January 10th, 2012

The National Human Rights Commission taking suo motu cognizance of a media report alleging that the official wrangles led to about a month's delay in the post mortem of a dead man's body recovered from a well near Keraket railway station in District Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh. The Commission has observed that delay in performing the last rites of the deceased has undoubtedly resulted in violation of the right to dignity of the deceased and constitutes a serious violation of human rights, if the allegations are true.

Calling for a report in the matter within a week, the Commission has issued notices to the Principle Secretary (Health) and the Principle Secretary (Home), Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Reportedly, Dilawar, son of Munawwar Khan went missing on the 14th November, 2011, after he left home in Keraket. On the 1st December, 2011, his decomposed body was found and a murder case was registered against three accused who were arrested. And from that day onwards till the publication of the news story on the 2nd January, 2012, Munawwar Khan was running from one hospital to another in Jaunpur, Lucknow and Varanasi on his own with his son's body to get post mortem done so that he could bury him without any hassles.

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