Home / Health / Punjab Rights Panel Acts on Hospital Body Neglect
Punjab Rights Panel Acts on Hospital Body Neglect
29 Jul
Summary
- Human Rights Commission probes body left outside mortuary.
- Incident deemed a serious affront to human dignity.
- District health authorities given one week to respond.
The Punjab State and Chandigarh Human Rights Commission initiated suo motu proceedings on July 28, 2026, following media reports of a body being left outside the mortuary at Samrala Civil Hospital. The commission, comprising justice Sant Parkash, justice Gurbir Singh, and member Jitender Singh Shunty, cited the incident as a matter affecting human dignity and reflecting potential negligence.
Observing that ensuring dignity for the deceased is as crucial as providing care for the living, the commission has directed the civil surgeon of Ludhiana to submit a detailed report. The next hearing is scheduled for August 20, 2026, with copies of the order sent to the Director of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab.
The incident involved the body of Juna Pandey, a resident of Samrala. The deceased's family alleged significant distress due to the body remaining in the open. In response, the senior medical officer has established a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the matter thoroughly.
