The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Ministry of External Affairs to look for alternative legal remedies in order to expedite the process of repatriation of the mortal remains of a Hindu man who was wrongly buried in Saudi Arabia.
A single judge bench of the high court presided over by Justice Prathiba M. Singh said
“The Indian Consulate shall also find other ways to approach any other authority or legal remedy which can be helpful to bring back the mortal remains of the Petitioner’s husband.”
These directions were passed after a senior official of the MEA told the court that though a further follow-up was done with the senior embassy officials of Saudi however, no positive was received as to when the mortal remains of the deceased man can be repatriated.
The submissions were made by Vishnu Sharma, the Director, Consular, Passport and Visa Division of the Ministry of External Affairs while the court was hearing a petition filed by Anju Sharma, the widow of deceased Sanjeev Kumar, who was wrongly buried in Saudi Arabia, though he was a Hindu. “The MEA had reminded the Saudi Embassy in Delhi to expedite the process of repatriation. The communication was done through phone, Whatsapp and Email,” Sharma told the court.
Earlier, he had told the court that there was no clarity on the timeline within which the body could be brought back to India and also assured the court that the matter was being followed up by them. The officer had also said that as per the existing protocol in Saudi Arabia, an Indian citizen’s body cannot be disposed of without obtaining an NOC from the Indian Consulate. However, in this case, the procedure was not followed, he had said.
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Sanjeev Kumar died on January 24 in Saudi Arabia, where he was working, due to cardiac arrest and his mortal remains were kept at a hospital there. On February 18, the petitioner was informed that the body of her husband has been buried in Saudi Arabia while the family members of the deceased were waiting for the mortal remains in India.
The court has now slated the matter for hearing on April 8.