DCs to find cremation site for deceased from indigenous faith

The Meghalaya High Court has asked its Amicus Curiae Dr. Nitesh Mozika to hold an online meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners of the twelve districts in the State to find out places for cremation of the dead belonging to the indigenous faith.

While hearing a PIL on the matter today, the division bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasana Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh also said that the Deputy Commissioners should make a fact finding exercise through the BDO level and apprise the Amicus Curiae of any point or place in a particular district where a crematorium or a ground for cremation of the death is not available within 10 kilometers.

“While indicating whether the presence of the crematorium is within 10 kilometers from a particular point or place, the District Magistrate or the Deputy Commissioner shall also indicate the population density of that area,” the court said.

The High Court also directed the Deputy Commissioners through the junior officers to hold meetings with members of the Khasi, Jaintia and Hindu communities so as to persuade them to accept one crematorium or one place for cremation of the dead for all the communities.

“If necessary, the timing of cremation could be arranged so that at a particular period of time only the dead bodies of a particular community are cremated and over other periods of time, cremation of the other communities is accomplished. Or the place for performing religious rituals can be segregated so that one area is allocated to one community and rest for the others,” the court said, adding that this data from the Deputy Commissioner should contain block-wise details and suggestions.

“In case there is a difference of opinion between the two communities with regard to sharing a crematorium or a place for cremation or in relation to any another issue, the learned Amicus Curiae shall physically visit the district and the particular area so as to ensure as far as possible that the said communities agree on some common procedure for disposal of the death,” the court added.

The High Court also requested the Amicus Curiae to file a report on the matter by February 28, 2025. The PIL will come up for hearing on March 4, 2025.