The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a fresh post-mortem examination of Daljeet Singh at PGIMER, Chandigarh, and barred political parties, politicians and other groups from participating in or interfering with his cremation after his death triggered protests over Punjab’s drug menace.
Justice Sanjay Vashisth directed the Punjab and Chandigarh administrations to ensure that Singh’s last rites are conducted immediately after the fresh examination, with adequate police security. The court also ordered that no person should create disturbance or obstruction while the body is being taken to the cremation ground or during the performance of the last rites.
The directions were issued while hearing a criminal writ petition filed by Amarjeet Kaur, Singh’s sister and a resident of Bhamme Kalan village in Mansa district. She has sought a CBI investigation into her brother’s death, an independent post-mortem examination at PGIMER, protection for her family and action against police officials.
Singh was found dead on October 27 after his family learnt that his body was lying about 1.5 to 2 kilometres from their residence. According to submissions recorded by the court, the family initially believed that he may have died after consuming a narcotic substance, against the backdrop of the drug crisis in Punjab. Residents and family members subsequently sought to take out a procession with the body for religious rituals, including recitation of Gurbani and Path. The petitioner’s lawyers alleged that the police administration had acted against protesters and detained some of them.
The court was told that hundreds or thousands of protesters had gathered in the area, creating a tense situation. The Bench also noted two unnatural-death incidents in quick succession in Mansa district, involving Parminder Singh alias Jhota on October 13 and Daljeet Singh on October 27. The state informed the court that Jhota’s last rites had not been conducted and that his post-mortem examination had also not taken place because his body remained in the custody of agitators.
In Singh’s case, the Punjab government produced an AIIMS Bathinda post-mortem report dated October 28, which recorded eight injuries on his body. Additional Advocate General Chanchal K. Singla told the court that video footage showed Singh and certain suspects near the house of one accused at about 9.30 pm, after which Singh was allegedly beaten. His body was later found at the location from where it was recovered by family members.
The High Court said that two different versions had emerged and that a fresh examination was necessary to clarify the circumstances of the death. It directed that the nature of the injuries, including whether they were ante-mortem, be examined. The Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory was ordered to expedite the examination of viscera so its final result could be placed before the court at the earliest.
The court said that the right to dignified disposal of mortal remains is an aspect of human dignity and must be respected regardless of the circumstances of death. It also said that suspicion or collective objectives could not justify using mortal remains in a manner that undermined the deceased’s dignity or disturbed public peace and law and order.
The Directors General of Police of Punjab and Chandigarh and the Director of PGIMER were directed to coordinate and expedite the proceedings. The mortal remains were to be handed over to PGIMER authorities by 10 am on November 4 for the fresh examination and related procedures, including preservation of viscera if required. The cremation ground in Sector 25, Chandigarh, was to be cordoned off, with the cremation taking place immediately after the examination.
The court permitted Singh’s parents, sister, widow, minor children, other relatives and close friends to attend the last rites peacefully. It also directed that family members be brought to the cremation ground under police protection without injury, intimidation or harassment. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on November 5.
