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The Delhi High Court recently closed the proceedings in the Public Interest Litigation over the issue of disposal of bodies of those who died of Covid-19. The bench, however, expressed its anguish over the news reports showing that there were a number of bodies piled up at the hospitals and other places due to a shortage of funeral facilities.

A bench of the Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla noted that the situation has undertaken a sea of change, whereas, with the passage of time, the matter has lost its relevance.

The bench was hearing a PIL wherein it was stated that the right to life also encompasses the right to a decent burial or cremation and consequently, the State is clearly under an obligation to ensure that members of all communities are provided access to burial/ cremation facilities.

Court observed that due to a large number of deaths at the peak of the pandemic there were a large number of bodies lying unattended at the hospitals, mortuaries, and cremation grounds due to a shortage of sufficient facilities for funerals.

In furtherance of the same, the bench said that if the news reports and the situation is correct then it was highly dissatisfactory and violative of the rights of the dead.

"However, with the improved situation of Covid-19, the bench said that the matter has lost its relevance and can be closed at this stage," Court held.