Wife Approaches Delhi Court Seeking Mortal Remains Of Hindu Husband 'Mistakenly' Buried As Per Muslim Rites In Saudi

The man, identified as Sanjeev Kumar, was an Indian migrant and Indian passport holder who passed away due to a cardiac arrest in Saudi Arabia on January 24.

An Indian woman approached Delhi High Court seeking mortal remains of her deceased Hindu Husband who was mistakenly buried as per the Muslim rites in Saudi Arabia after an official translator at the Indian Consulate wrongly declared the man as Muslim.

The deceased's wife has approached the court seeking direction to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to take steps to urgently exhume the remains and repatriate them to India in a time bound manner for conducting of rites in accordance with deceased person's religion.

The man, identified as Sanjeev Kumar, was an Indian migrant and Indian passport holder who passed away due to a cardiac arrest in Saudi Arabia on January 24.  His mortal remains were kept at the Baesh General Hospital in Jizan, Saudi Arabia. The concerned hospital certified the demise of the man. However, the official translator of the Indian Consulate incorrectly translated the death certificate, declaring the man as Muslim.

In a writ petition filed through advocate Subhash Chandran K R, the petitioner said that on getting the information of her husband's death, her family members requested the concerned authority to repatriate the mortal remains to India.

Anju Sharma, the wife of the deceased further in the plea stated that even after seven weeks of the death, the authorities failed to do necessary formalities to repatriate the mortal remains of Sanjeev Kumar to India.

According to news agency PTI, Justice Prathiba M Singh hearing the case, said that "the concerned officer from the MEA not below the rank of deputy secretary shall join the proceedings on March 18 to apprise this court about the update on steps taken and status on transportation of mortal remains of the deceased."

"Adequate steps ought to have been taken to bring back the body of the deceased to India to conduct the last rite," Singh noted.

The plea also sought action against the concerned officials of Indian Consulate at Jeddah for their wilful negligence. It also requested a corrected death certificate of the deceased and supply the document to the wife.