The Patna High Court has initiated action on its own accord after becoming aware of news reports that show a troubling video where three Bihar police officers were observed placing the body of a road accident victim into a canal in the Muzaffarpur district of Bihar.
The High Court commented that the actions of the police in the incident seemed to be a regrettable reflection of our society.
A panel consisting of Chief Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice Rajiv Roy stressed the importance of treating deceased bodies with reverence, considering them as sacred vessels of the soul, and, as such, deserving of a greater level of respect and dignity in their handling.
The Court added that while some may view lifeless bodies as expendable vessels of the soul, they should remember that when alive, these bodies carry a soul, which is an integral part of every living being. Therefore, there is a need for a higher level of respect and a significantly greater degree of dignity in their handling and disposal.
In this context, the Court also made reference to the advisory issued by the National Human Rights Commission regarding the importance of upholding the dignity and safeguarding the rights of the deceased.
In its order issued on October 9th, the Court went on to instruct the State government to furnish details regarding whether any disciplinary measures had been taken against the police officers who were involved in the wrongful incident.
The Court stated, "We instruct both the Union and the State to provide any existing guidelines or, if none exist, to develop such guidelines and present them within a two-week period. Furthermore, we request the Director-General of Police (DGP) to provide information regarding the actions taken against the officers involved in the incident."
The case was initiated following the circulation of a viral video on social media. This video depicted three Bihar policemen disposing of the body of a road accident victim into a canal in the vicinity of the outpost area in Muzaffarpur district.
Subsequently, the three officers involved in the incident have been suspended from their duties.
According to media reports, the victim had tragically lost their life in a road accident near the Dhodhi Canal bridge. Upon being informed of the accident, the police reportedly arrived at the scene and, rather than following proper procedures, disposed of the body in a canal.
The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for October 31st.
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