The bodies of four Indians abroad are not able to return to their homeland because airlines are refusing to bring the bodies without original passports. Whereas Indian Embassies and Consulates have given formal approval for their repatriation. These cases have been highlighted by ‘Team Aid’, an NGO which helps in bringing back bodies to India after the death of Indians abroad. Calling it a humanitarian crisis, the organization has demanded immediate intervention from the government.
Now if we talk about identification of dead bodies of Indians stranded abroad, then their identities will be Abhi Salaria, who committed suicide, Pradeep Kumar, who was shot. Sachin Kumar, who died of a brain stroke, and Hardeep Singh. On the other hand, there is another case of Praveen Yadav, whose ashes have also not been sent to India yet.
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Airlines’ logic and families’ troubles
According to the organisation, Indian embassies and consulates have issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) in all cases, yet airlines are refusing to fly the bodies due to fear of fines from the immigration department. Prem Bhandari, chief advisor to Team Aid and chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, said that many times the passport gets lost, gets damaged or is with the authorities.
He said that in such a situation it is not possible to give the original passport to the family. The government should accept only the NOC of the Indian Embassy in such cases. He said that this is a completely humanitarian matter and action should be taken with sensitivity.
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Appeal to the Government of India
In this case, Team Aid had written a letter to the Home Secretary on this issue on July 15 and has sent reminders several times. Mohan Nannapanaini, president of the organization, said that when the passport of the deceased is not available, it becomes very difficult to bring the body to India.
He said that we have demanded an immediate solution from both the External Affairs Ministry and the Home Ministry. Along with this, Colonel Santok Singh, representing Salaria’s family, has appealed to the government to allow the body to be brought to India even without a passport.
The matter may go to the Supreme Court
Along with this, Prem Bhandari said that many NRI organizations have advised him to file a petition in the Supreme Court of India, saying that Article 21 of the Constitution also protects the dignity and rights of the deceased.
He expressed hope that this issue will be resolved without reaching the court. Bhandari said that I have full confidence that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this matter will be resolved with sensitivity. Bhandari also said that if the need arises, he will appeal directly to the Home Minister or the Prime Minister so that clear guidelines are issued to the Immigration Department that the bodies can be brought to India only on the basis of NOC given by Indian missions.
