Delhi High Court asks MEA official to coordinate with Saudi Embassy to facilitate repatriation of mortal remains of Hindu migrant

To facilitate the repatriation of the buried mortal remains of a Hindu migrant from Saudi Arabia, the Delhi High Court today asked an officer from the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to coordinate with the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Saudi Embassy in New Delhi..The Court has requested the Deputy Chief of Mission, Saudi Arabia to obtain some timeline within which the process of exhumation and repatriation would be completed..A Single Judge bench of justice Prathiba M Singh said,"You say it is a request from Court. Considering the sensitivity...you can ask them.".The Court was hearing a petition preferred by the wife (petitioner) of the deceased to bring back the body to India after exhumation..Pursuant to its previous order, the Director of the Consulate, Passport & Visa Division, MEA appeared before the Court and said that there was no clarity on the timeline within which the body would be brought back to India..He assured the Court that the matter was being followed up."Unfortunately, it is a sad thing. I can't confirm to the family but we will keep pursuing.".He stated that as per the existing protocol in Saudi Arabia, an Indian's body could not be disposed of without obtaining an NOC from the Indian Consulate. However, in the present case, the procedure was not followed.Apprehending that the same could have been because of COVID-19, the official also said that the body was buried in a "non-Muslim cemetery"..In its order, the Court also noted that once the Indian Consulate was informed about the burial, two communications were addressed by it to the authorities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.The Court also recorded that the compensation cheque of Rs 4,68,000 sent by the deceased's employer may be collected by the family from the District Collector at Una, Himachal Pradesh..The Court has directed that the details of the cheque and its dispatch details be shared with the counsel of the family by the Indian Consulate. In case there is any delay, the family may contact the MEA official present in Court today..The Consulate was also asked to assist the petitioner as regards any monetary benefits that she may get from the employer. The matter will be heard next on March 24..The petitioner was told by the officials in the Indian Consulate that due to a mistake committed by the official translator, the religion of the husband was wrongly mentioned as ‘Muslim’ in the death certificate, leading to the confusion and burial of his dead body..Thereafter, the petitioner requested officials of the Indian Consulate in Jeddah to ask the local authorities to exhume the mortal remains of her husband..Unfortunately, even after seven weeks of his death, the Consulate failed to complete the formalities to repatriate the body for the performance of last rites, prompting the petitioner to move the High Court..Widow of Hindu Indian migrant moves Delhi High Court for repatriation of buried mortal remains of husband from Saudi Arabia