Unclaimed Bodies in Hospital Mortuary: NHRC’s Suo Motu Intervention Puts Raipur Authorities on Notice
(By: Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
New Delhi, September 10, 2025: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a disturbing media report highlighting the piling up of unclaimed dead bodies in the mortuary of the District Hospital, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The report reveals that no space has been allocated by the administration for conducting the last rites of these bodies, which are presently being performed by a local NGO. Alarmingly, three unidentified bodies have reportedly not even been sent for post-mortem examinations for over a week.
Taking serious note of the matter, the NHRC observed that if the contents of the report are accurate, they raise grave concerns over the violation of human rights, as even the deceased are entitled to last rites with dignity, as per their religious practices.
In its order, the Commission has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh, directing a comprehensive report within two weeks detailing the steps taken or proposed to address the situation.
The NHRC further recalled its 2021 advisory on the dignity and rights of the dead, wherein it had emphasized that the rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India—including the right to life, fair treatment, and dignity—extend to deceased persons as well.
The media report dated September 9, 2025, pointed out that the district administration had, nearly three years ago, allocated three acres of land for conducting the last rites of unclaimed bodies. Over the years, the NGO in question has reportedly performed the final rites for more than 800 unclaimed bodies on this land. However, despite the possibility of re-using the site after soil refilling, the administration has allegedly taken no steps to make the land operational again, resulting in the current crisis.
The NHRC’s intervention seeks to ensure that the dignity of the deceased is upheld and administrative negligence, if any, is addressed on priority.
