Madras High Court Says Dead Body Can’t be Used for Protest, Calls PIL ‘Publicity Interest Litigation’

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed a PIL arising from a custodial death where the deceased’s family allegedly refused to conduct the last rites and used the body as part of a protest seeking action against authorities.

The Court noted that the incident was already under investigation and criticised the petition as a “publicity interest litigation.”

It observed that a dead body cannot be used as a means of protest, as it violates human dignity.

Emphasising Article 21, the Bench held that the right to a decent and timely burial is a fundamental right, and declined to interfere.

[C.Selvakumar v. The Chief Election Commissioner & Ors.]