High Court Allows Daljit Singh's Cremation at His Mansa Villageਹਾਈ ਕੋਰਟ ਨੇ ਦਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਾ ਸਸਕਾਰ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਮਾਨਸਾ ਪਿੰਡ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਇਜਾਜ਼ਤ ਦਿੱਤੀ

Daljit Singh will finally be cremated at home. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday modified its order of a day earlier and permitted the family of the 35-year-old to perform his last rites at Bhamme Kalan, his native village in Mansa district, instead of at the Sector 25 cremation ground in Chandigarh. The cremation is to take place on Thursday, in the presence of immediate family members only.

Why did the court change its order?

The change came on a fresh application moved by Daljit Singh's mother and wife, who told the court that Tuesday's order restricting the cremation to Chandigarh had been passed without making them parties to the case. Punjab government counsel Chanchal Singla confirmed that the court allowed the venue to be shifted on their application. Earlier on Wednesday, the man's father had come to PGIMER, where the body had been brought at around 2 am, and voiced strong resentment at the Chandigarh order, saying the family wanted the cremation at their village according to their rituals, before leaving for Mansa.

The fresh postmortem at PGIMER

Justice Sanjay Vashisth had on Tuesday ordered a fresh postmortem at PGIMER, Chandigarh, after noting two conflicting versions of the death on record. That examination was completed on Wednesday: after verification by Mansa police, a team of doctors conducted the autopsy at PGIMER's Advanced Autopsy Centre between 11.30 am and 1.40 pm. Sardulgarh deputy superintendent of police Harvinder Singh Sarahan said further legal action would depend on the autopsy findings. A first postmortem had earlier been conducted at AIIMS, Bathinda, on 28 October.

Two versions of a death

Daljit Singh's sister Amarjeet Kaur, 38, had petitioned the court seeking a CBI investigation, protection for the family from local police and an independent postmortem at PGIMER. She alleges that her brother died of a drug overdose, in a region battling a narcotics menace, and that police acted against residents who planned a peaceful protest carrying his body. The state, in turn, told the court that the first postmortem showed assault injuries, and police have registered a murder case alleging that he was beaten by an acquaintance before his body was recovered from a field near Ramananda village. The cause of death has not been established. The court held that a dignified cremation is a right which deserves to be respected even after a person's death.

Conditions for the cremation

The court repeated that the mortal remains cannot be used by any party in a way that undermines dignity or disturbs public peace. No political party, politician or outside organisation may take part in or interfere with the last rites, and the police chiefs of Punjab and Chandigarh have been directed to provide security and prevent any disturbance during the transfer of the body and the cremation.

When and where will Daljit Singh be cremated?

On Thursday at his native village, Bhamme Kalan, in Mansa district, in the presence of immediate family members only, under the High Court's modified order.

Why was a second postmortem ordered?

Because two versions of the death are on record: the family alleges a drug overdose, while the state says a first postmortem showed assault injuries and police have registered a murder case. Justice Sanjay Vashisth ordered a fresh examination at PGIMER, Chandigarh.

What happens next in the case?

Police say further legal action will depend on the findings of the fresh PGIMER autopsy. The case is listed in the High Court on 5 November.