Chandigarh-February 5, 2026-The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken suomotu cognizance of an extremely heart-rending and inhuman incident and has expressed strong concern over the grave insensitivity of the State’s public health system and administrative machinery. The matter pertains to a news report dated January 30, 2026, published in a leading daily newspaper titled “Woman dies in hospital, cash-strapped kin take body home on cart.”
According to the news report, a 35-year-old woman, Anuradha, died during treatment at Badshah Khan Civil Hospital, Faridabad. Owing to the family’s extremely poor financial condition, the relatives were unable to arrange money for transportation of the dead body. As no ambulance or hearse was provided by the hospital or the administration, the body of the deceased was taken to village Sarurpur on a motorised open pushcart.
The Commission, headed by Justice LalitBatra, described the incident as a direct assault on human dignity, constitutional values and the very concept of a Welfare State.
Human Dignity Does Not End With Death
In its order, the Full Commission comprising Chairperson Justice LalitBatra and Members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia observed that the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India is not confined merely to existence, but also includes the right to live—and die—with dignity. Forcing a family to transport a dead body in degrading conditions due to poverty reflects a serious abdication of the State’s constitutional and moral responsibilities.
Heart-Rending Scene: Seven-Year-Old Son Holding His Mother’s Shroud
Referring to the circumstances described in the news report, the Commission noted that the motorised cart was being driven by the aged father-in-law of the deceased, while her husband and mother-in-law walked alongside in mourning. The deceased woman’s seven-year-old son was holding tightly onto the sheet covering his mother’s body to prevent it from being blown away by the wind. The Commission observed that such scenes compel deep introspection for any civilised and sensitive society.
Policy Vacuum and Administrative Apathy Exposed
The Haryana Human Rights Commission also expressed grave concern over statements made by health officials claiming that government ambulances are not meant for transporting dead bodies. According to the Commission, such statements reveal a policy vacuum and administrative insensitivity. The Commission clarified that the real issue is not whether the family made a request, but whether the State has any assured, accessible and dignified mechanism for transporting the bodies of deceased persons belonging to economically weaker families.
Not an Isolated Incident, but a Systemic Failure
The Commission observed that similar incidents have repeatedly surfaced across the country, where impoverished families are compelled to transport sick relatives or dead bodies using carts, rickshaws, motorcycles or other makeshift means. Such incidents are not isolated lapses but reflect a deep-rooted systemic failure of the health and administrative framework.
Dignity in Death Is a Right, Not Charity
Based on the above facts, the Commission, headed by Justice LalitBatra, categorically stated that no Welfare State can permit poverty to determine how a citizen’s body is treated after death. Ensuring dignity in death is not an act of charity but a constitutional and human rights obligation.
Recommendation to Frame a New Policy
The Commission noted that the Government of Haryana already provides free ambulance services to pregnant women for transportation to and from Civil Hospitals. On the same lines, the Commission has recommended that the Health Department, Government of Haryana, frame a policy ensuring that in cases where a patient from an economically weaker family dies during treatment in any Civil Hospital, the dead body is transported to the residence of the deceased free of cost and in a dignified manner.
Action Taken Reports Sought From Senior Officers:
The Commission’s Assistant Registrar Dr.PuneetArora informed that the Commission has directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department,Haryana; Director General, Health Services, Haryana; and the Civil Surgeon-cum-Chief Medical Officer, Faridabad to submit their respective action taken reports at least one week prior to the next date of hearing.
The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for April 2, 2026.
