Abu Dhabi: The Kerala High Court in India has stayed a controversial circular issued by the Airport Health Officer at Calicut International Airport early this month about repatriation of mortal remains of Indians from abroad.
The circular had insisted that the health officer’s approval must be obtained 48 hours before the bodies are brought to the country.
The court issued an interim order on a petition filed by Hanil Sajjad, manager of Universal Hospital in Abu Dhabi, according to media reports from Kochi.
As Gulf News reported on July 10, a huge uproar from Indian expatriates, mostly from the southern Indian state of Kerala, had already prompted the official to reassure that the status quo would prevail.
The circular had stipulated submission of four certificates such as death certificate, embalming certificate, no objection certificate (NOC) from the Indian Embassy (from where the body is repatriated) and cancelled copy of the passport of the deceased to the health officer 48 hours before the arrival of the mortal remains.
The court allowed the authorities to insist on getting approval 12 hours prior to bringing the body in accordance with the draft rules proposed by the Indian Government until the case was disposed of by the court.
The petitioner said the circular was inhumane as it treated the body like a hazardous object.
The Assistant Solicitor-General representing the Indian Government told the court that the order was issued as per the provisions of the Airport (Public Health) Rules 1954. The government would replace the rules to improve the related procedures. The new rules stipulated getting approval of the officer 12 hours before bringing the body to the country, he said.
