HC notice to authorities on widow's plea to exhume remains of Dr Simon who died of COVID-19 for reburial

Chennai, May 13 () The Madras High Court onWednesday issued notice to the Chief Secretary, DGP and otherofficials on a plea from the widow of Dr Simon Hercules, whodied of COVID-19, seeking a direction to authorities to exhumethe body and rebury it in a cemetery at Kilpauk here.

The petition came up before Justice M Duraisamy whoalso issued notice to the Secretaries of Health and FamilyWelfare Department and Commissioner of Police, Chennai City.

The judge directed authorities to file the counteraffidavit and posted the matter to June 10.

Earlier, a division bench dismissed a PIL seekingthe same relief, stating that the authorities had alreadyrejected the wife's request.

However, it gave liberty to the bereaved family toapproach the court challenging the rejection.

Earlier this month,the Commissioner of GreaterChennai Corporation had rejected the request and refused toexhume the body for reburial.

The doctor had succumbed to the coronavirusinfection on April 19. The ambulance in which his body wascarried was vandalised by some people who feared that theburial in Kilpauk cemetery may lead to the spread of contagionin the area.

Later, the body was taken to another crematorium andburied amid police security. COR BN

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