The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has issued advisory for upholding the dignity and protecting the rights of the dead. The advisory has been issued in view of deaths during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic and challenges in management of dead bodies. The Commission said that the guidelines issued by World Health Organization, National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India and various State Governments have emphasized on the maintenance of the COVID Protocol while upholding the dignity of the dead, including decent burial according to respective religious customs and practices. <br />''<br />''It said, the Supreme Court and various High Courts have highlighted the importance of providing decent burial to dead persons amidst this pandemic. The NHRC said, despite these guidelines, various disturbing facts have surfaced through the media that have reported about the mismanagement and mishandling of COVID-19 affected bodies thereby lowering their dignity.<br />'' <br />''In the recommendation made in the advisory, the Commission has stressed on the need for specific legislation to be enacted for the purpose of upholding the dignity and protecting the rights of the dead. It also said, in view of the large number of COVID deaths and long queue of bodies seen at crematoriums, temporary arrangements should be made urgently in order to avoid undue delay in cremation. Besides, in order to ensure that dignity is upheld during handling of bodies, the cremation and burial ground staff must be sensitized and they should also be provided necessary safety equipment and facilities.<br />'' <br />''In the advisory, the Commission also said that in cases where family members or relatives are not present to perform last rites as they themselves may be infected or where the repatriation of the body to the family may not be possible, the State or Local Administration may perform the last rites taking into account the religious and cultural factors. It said, piling up of bodies during the transportation or at any other place must not be allowed to happen. It also advised that  accurate identification of the dead body must be aimed by using different criteria for identification and the State Authorities must ensure proper handling of the information about the dead and missing persons in disasters. <br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The NHRC said that to curb overcharging for transportation of dead bodies the prices of the hearse and ambulance services should be regulated so that people are not exploited. It said, as the staff at crematoriums, burial grounds and mortuaries are working round the clock during this wave of pandemic, they may be paid fair wages and they should be vaccinated on priority basis. The Commission has urged the concerned authorities of the Central and State governments to implement the recommendations and submit the report about action taken on the advisory within four weeks to it.</span><br />