The Supreme Court on Friday is hearing a matter related to alleged harassment of COVID-19 patients and the mishandling of bodies of those who succumbed to coronavirus.
According to reports, the bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan took a suo moto cognizance of a letter by former law minister Ashwani Kumar highlighting news reports in this regard.
Notably, earlier this month, Ashwani Kumar wrote to Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and other justices of the Supreme Court, urging them to heed reports about coronavirus patients being ill-treated and bodies of those dying of the infection not being given a decent burial.
In his letter, dated June 8, he specifically referred to two alleged incidents from Madhya Pradesh and Puducherry.
Kumar pointed out that the apex court and different High Courts have in the past given judgments declaring that the right to die with dignity and the right to decent burial or cremation is fundamental.
