Photo for representation.

(PTI)In a major relief for family members of Covid-19 victims, the Calcutta High Court has allowed kin of the victims to perform the last rites after taking precautions against the infection.A division bench of Chief Justice TB Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee, said on Wednesday that families of Covid-19 victims should have “an opportunity to have a final look at the deceased’s human remains and perform last rites”.“We are of the firm view that the right of the family of a Covid-19 victim to perform the last rites before the cremation or burial of the deceased person is a right akin to Fundamental Right, within the meaning of Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” the court has observed.“The right to dignity and fair treatment under Article 21 of the Constitution is not only available to a living person, but also to his or her mortal remains after demise,” it added.The observations were made while hearing a petition that alleged that the state administration has been disposing of the bodies of Covid-19 infected persons “unceremoniously” and in an “undignified matter”, depriving family members from paying their last tributes.The court also noted that family members of Covid-19 victims will be allowed to perform the funeral rites, but with certain precautionary guidelines to minimise the risk of them contracting the disease.

Accordingly, the court laid down nine guidelines, including the use of body bags with transparent face area for the transfer of mortal remains of the deceased.Till now, civic authorities like the Kolkata Municipal Corporation had been disposing of bodies of coronavirus patients at designated Covid-19 crematoriums due to fears of contamination and spread of the virus from the mortal remains.

Family members were required to sign an undertaking, allowing civic authorities to dispose of such bodies.