BURIAL GROUND CONTROVERSY
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Human Rights takes municipalities to task
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The municipalities were not responding to the directives and was therefore asked to be made respondents to the case.
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The Goa Human Rights Commission on Friday named the Margao, Pernem and Bicholim Municipalities as respondents to an ongoing case on earmarking parts of the crematoriums in their jurisdictions.
The commission led by Chairperson AD Salkar and member JA Keny noted that “the three municipalities were not responding to directives issued for providing common facilities to all religions in the crematorium and burial ground.”
The Department of Urban Development (Municipal Administration) had in December last year issued a notice directing the municipality “to make suitable arrangements for a cremation ground to be used by the Hindu Community irrespective of caste or creed, a Kabrastan to be used by the Muslim Community and burial ground for the Christian community.” It added that if space permitted, a small portion may also be reserved for any person not professing faith.
The Directorate of Panchayats had issued a similar memorandum to village panchayats in January.
The Margao Municipal Council had taken a resolution in April this year where it was unanimously resolved to make the necessary arrangements. In August, an order was issued to reserve one wing (Ist Wing) out of the four wing near Rawanfond Bridge, St. Sebastian Church (Aquem) cemetery for those professing any faith.
Social activist Dr Anthony Rodrigues, however complained to the Human Rights Commission after an old lady was not allowed to be buried there. According to Rodrigues, “one old lady who had died on 29th Sept. 2016, not professing any religion… so in order to bury her in the space provided for all in the Aquem, Rawanfond bridge cemetery, some voluntarily approached the Vicar of St. Sebastian Church. They insulted them and sent them back,” he said in his letter to the municipality.
The commission had, through its proceedings asked for each respondent to file a status report. Respondents to the case were the directorate of panchayats, municipal administration and the Chief Secretary. While the panchayat department submitted its status report, the municipalities were not responding to the directives and was therefore asked to be made respondents to the case.
