sahil verma
JAMMU: After more than 29 days, body of a man remains unclaimed as authorities of Government Medical College and Hospital and Chest Diseases (CD) Hospital have failed to own it. The body is kept in the mortuary of GMC as no hospital authority has come forward to take the responsibility.
According to information available, Raja Ram, a resident of Teli Basti Rajiv Colony, Bari Brahmana, who was suffering from TB, was admitted in the Chest Disease Hospital, Bakshi Nagar Jammu on 15th December, 2015. He breathed his last on 22nd December, 2015, in the CD Hospital and the body was shifted to mortuary of GMC.
According, the CD Hospital authorities have lodged a case in this regard in Bakshi Nagar Police Station on 22nd December, 2015.
Even after 29 days, no one has approached to claim the body of Raja Ram.
With the passage of time, the authorities of both the hospitals have shown negligence and the body of Raja Ram is still lying in the mortuary. The hospital authorities and concerned police officials are shifting responsibility on each other shoulder as regards disposal of the body is concerned.
According to rules, the unclaimed bodies have to be kept in the mortuary for 72 hours for identification purposes. In the meantime, if nobody claims the body it is the responsibility of concerned hospital authorities and police department to dispose off unclaimed bodies after completing the legal formalities.
Medical Superintendent of GMCH, Dr Ravinder Rattanpal when contacted informed STATE TIMES that it’s the responsibility of concerned medical superintendent to take appropriate decision in consultation with the police officials.
“The GMC provides only space to the bodies in mortuary as the concerned medical superintendent is required to dispose of the body in a time bound manner,” he added.
Speaking on the procedure of unclaimed bodies, he informed that one is that if the body parts can be used for medical studies they will be removed otherwise the authorities concerned will perform the last rites after confirming the religion with the help of civil society members or NGOs.
On contacting the Medical Superintendent CD Hospital, Dr Manoj Chalotra said that the patient was admitted by some persons, who posed as his relatives and was suffering from TB at that time.
Chalotra further stated that after the death of patient we filed a complaint at the concerned police station.
“Now it’s the responsibility of SHO to inform all the local police stations for verification and the same will be advertised in the local dailies,” he added.
He asserted that under Anatomy Act, 1959 Rule 5&7 it is responsibility of concerned SHO, after completing the legal formalities, to dispose of the body at the government expenses.
Despite repeated attempts SHO Bakshi Nagar Police Station could not be contacted for comments.
