CHENNAI: After waiting in despair with the body of his 100-year-old grandfather who died on Sunday, a dalit from Nagapattinam is finally looking forward to burying the body on Tuesday after Madras High Court intervened and issued directives.
The court on Monday directed the district administration and police to act swiftly on the plea from M Sankar from Vazhuvur in Nagapattinam, who alleged that the body of his grandfather, a dalit, could not be buried after local caste Hindus prevented him from using the path leading to the burial ground.
"It is very unfortunate that equality eludes a person till death starting from his birth," observed Justice MM Sundresh when the petition came up before him on Monday. The deceased could not be given a decent burial because of malice which still existed in society, the judge noted.
"This court expects the respondents to act immediately to do the needful and report the same on Tuesday, failing which appropriate orders will be passed," the judge added and posted the matter for compliance on Tuesday.
According to Sankar, his 100-year-old grandfather died on Sunday at his native place in Vazhuvur. The community members have been using a portion of the land on the bund of Makimaiaru for burying their dead for many years as they were prevented from using the common burial ground. But there was no road to the burial ground, and caste Hindus prevented them from using the path to the burial area, the petitioner had stated in his petition.