Shillong, Oct 25: In a landmark order, the Meghalaya High Court has sought to pave way for common crematoriums for communities – followers of traditional Khasi & Pnar (Jaintia) faiths and the Hindus – that ritually cremate the dead.
In its directive to district magistrates (deputy commissioners) on Friday, the High Court asked for holding meetings with members of the Khasi, Jaintia and Hindu communities and persuade them to accept one crematorium or one place for cremation of the dead for all the three communities.
“The district magistrate through the functionaries below him shall hold meetings with members of the Khasi, Jaintia and Hindu communities so as to persuade them to accept one crematorium or one place for cremation of the dead for all the communities,” stated the order.
“If necessary, the timing of cremation could be so arranged so that at a particular period of time only the dead bodies of a particular community are cremated and over other periods of time, cremation of the other communities is accomplished. Or the place for performance religious rituals can be segregated so that one area is allocated to one community and rest for the others.
This data from the DC should contain block–wise details and suggestions,” it said.
“In case there is a difference of opinion between the two communities with regard to sharing a crematorium or a place for cremation or in relation to any another issue, the learned amicus curiae shall physically visit the district and the particular area so as to ensure as far as possible that the said communities agree on some common procedure for disposal of the death,” added the order.
The court also directed Dr N Mozika, amicus curiae to convene and hold an online meeting with all DCs of the 12 districts in the State, wherein inter alia, the DMs will be asked to make a fact finding exercise through the BDO level and even lower and apprise the amicus curiae of any point or place in a particular district where a crematorium or a ground for cremation of the death is not available within 10 km.
While indicating whether the presence of the crematorium is within 10 km from a particular point or place, the DC shall also indicate the population density of that area, it added. The amicus curiae was also directed to file a report by February 28, 2025.
