Act on plea of grandson to bury centenarian grandfather: HC

Chennai, Jan 5: Observing that equality eludes a person till death starting from birth, the Madras High Court on Jan 4 directed Nagaipattinam district administration and police to swiftly act on a plea from a local whose deceased 100-year-old grandfather could not be buried allegedly due to opposition from upper caste people to use of a pathway to a burial ground.

"It is unfortunate that equality eludes a person till death starting from his birth. Petitioner's grandfather who died on January 3, 2016 could not be given a decent burial due to malice which is still prevalent in society. This Court expects the authorities to act immediately to do the needful and report the same on January 5, 2016, failing which appropriate orders will be passed," Justice M M Sundresh said.

The judge said this when a petition filed by one M Sankar of Vazhvur Village of Nagapattinam District came up. The petitioner submitted that though his grandfather died on January 3, he could not be buried for two days as upper caste people prevented him from using the path leading to the burial ground.

Sankar said his grandfather died at his native place in Vazhuvur where they were prevented from using the common burial ground.

They were using a portion of the land on the bund of Makimaiaru river from time immemorial. But there was no pucca road to the burial ground.

The local upper class people (Vanniars) prevented them from using this path, the petitioner contended. The Judge posted the matter for hearing tomorrow after direcing that a compliance report be filed.

PTI