Man carries wife's body on bike; NHRC sends notice to Bihar govt

NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission has sent a notice to Bihar government over reports of a man carrying his wife's body on a motorcycle after allegedly being denied a mortuary van by a hospital in Purnia.

Expressing its displeasure over the incident, the NHRC has observed that this is "not the first" such instance which has come to its attention.

"At several places across the country, such shameful incidents have happened and the commission has also taken cognisance in some of these cases. It seems that authorities are lacking on their part in understanding the sensitivity involved in such situations," the commission said today.

Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report that authorities at the District Purnia Sadar Hospital, where she had died, "failed to provide him a mortuary van", the NHRC has issued the notice to the state's chief secretary and sought a report in four weeks.

The deceased, Susheela Devi, 50, had died of illness at the hospital on June 2. When the husband requested for a vehicle to carry the body of his wife, the medical staff had told him to arrange on his own, according to the report, said the NHRC.

"Reportedly, the man, a poor labourer, approached the driver of an ambulance, who demanded Rs 2,500, which he (husband) could not afford. Ultimately, with the help of his son, the man had to carry the body on a motorcycle, holding it as a pillion rider," the commission said.

"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 proper infrastructure," it said.

According to the media report, carried on June 4, the civil surgeon of the hospital has said that mortuary van is not available at the Sadar Hospital and that people have to arrange it on their own, the NHRC said.

"The District Magistrate has reportedly ordered a probe into the matter," the commission said.

The incident serves as a painful reminder of the similar cases reported in other parts of the country.

Last August, the country was shocked to see images of Dana Majhi carrying his wife's body slung over his shoulder for 10 km to reach his village in Odisha's Kalahandi district after being denied help from the hospital authorities.

Last month, 45-year-old labourer Udayveer had to carry his teenage son's body on his shoulders as he was allegedly denied an ambulance by a hospital in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh. PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday accepted the BJP'S challenge of holding fresh assembly polls in Bihar and threw down the gauntlet asking it to hold simultaneous election in Uttar Pradesh, besides byelection to Lok Sabha seats held by the NDA members in the two states.

Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister and BJP leader Keshav Prasad Maurya had on Sunday dared Kumar to hold fresh assembly polls by dissolving Bihar assembly if he has "faith in the development work done by his government".

"If you (BJP) have the courage then hold simultaneous polls in UP and Bihar. I don't have any problem. I am ready for it tomorrow if you want it so," Kumar said. "I am ready (for snap polls) but it should be held along with Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. There should be simultaneous assembly polls in UP and Bihar," he said.

Kumar added that all the NDA and the BJP members should resign from their Lok Sabha seats in UP and Bihar and bypolls be held on those seats in the two states. MUMBAI: Observing that the Maharashtra government cannot pass a blanket order for shutting all liquor shops within 500 metres of state and national highways, the Bombay High Court on Monday directed the state to hear and pass reasoned orders in each case individually.

A division bench of Justices S M Kemkar and M S Sonak was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by liquor shops, permit rooms and bars challenging notices issued to them by the state Excise department prohibiting them from selling liquor.

The notices were issued in compliance with an order passed by the Supreme Court last year directing all liquor shops falling within 500 metres of the national and state highways to be shut.

The petitioners' argument was their shops are not within 500 metres of state highways and that the government had included even arterial roads as highways.

"We are of the view that the orders have been passed by the state Excise department without properly ascertaining in each case if the shops fall within 500 metres of state highways," Justice Kemkar said.

"We direct the secretary, state Public Works Department (roads) along with the commissioner of the state Excise department to hear the grievances of each petitioner. Each case shall be considered individually and a reasoned order shall be passed therein," the court said.

The PWD secretary has been directed to hear and decide all matters on or before July 5. SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Centre's notification banning the sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter and demanded its withdrawal as it would "impact the economy of the state and the food habit of its people".

Cutting across political lines, the members of the Assembly supported the resolution tabled by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.

"This House takes a strong note of the shortcomings and infirmities in these Rules (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Regulation of Livestock Markets Rules, 2017), as notified and resolves that the same may be withdrawn by Government of India with an immediate effect, so as to maintain the federal and secular character of our Constitution or be faced with a situation where the law prohibits some activity, while the everyday-life practices it on a large-scale due to harsh economic realities, a situation surely to be avoided at all costs," the resolution read.

The notification, it said, "travels way beyond the scope and object as set out in the Preamble of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960", thus infringing the rights of the states to regulate the items enlisted in the State List (Listii of VII Schedule to the Constitution of India).

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had issued the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 on May 23.

Sangma, introducing the resolution, alleged that the notification was "designed to affect" the people of the northeast in general and Meghalaya in particular.

It suffered from "serious shortcomings and infirmities" and could have an "adverse impact on the economy and culture" of the state of Meghalaya, he added.

The chief minister said beef was an "integral part" of the dietary habit of the tribals of Meghalaya and its demand in the state in 2015-2016 was 23,634 metric tonnes. Beef production in the state was only 12,834 MT and 10,800 MT was purchased from outside, he added.

Sangma told the House that to balance the demand and supply of beef, the government had put in place the Meghalaya State Livestock Mission for 2017-2022 to augment the livestock production.

The prohibition on the sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for the purpose of slaughter would affect the livelihood of over 5.7 lakh (79%) households, which were currently involved in cattle-rearing, he added.