NHRC notice to MCD on cremation of children

New Delhi, Apr 16: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent a notice to the MCD, seeking a factual report within a week regarding the policy on cremation of Hindu children below the age of three years and condition of crematoriums for children in the city.

Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report that said a family was turned away from 8 crematoriums which refused to perform last rites of a 15-month-old child, the NHRC directed the MCD Commissioner to respond to the notice.

The Commission said if the contents of the report were true, there was a serious issue of human rights violations.

According to the news report, telecast on April 11, Mr Shantanu Sharma was refused cremation of his nephew at the crematoriums.

''The authorities at the crematoriums told them that children below the age of three cannot be cremated and it was against the Hindu law,'' it said.

The Commission said the news item depicts a serious malady of the system which denies proper cremation of children who may die ''too young''.

''It also highlights the poor and shabby management of the 'Bacche wala ghat','' it added.

UNI