Chandigarh, Dec. 10 -- The Punjab and Chandigarh Human Rights Commission on Tuesday issued comprehensive and binding guidelines to the departments of health and family welfare of the government of Punjab and the Chandigarh Administration, prohibiting hospitals, both government and private, from withholding dead bodies over unpaid bills.

The guidelines are aimed at safeguarding the dignity, rights, and lawful treatment of the deceased, particularly unclaimed, unidentified, abandoned, or underprivileged dead bodies, from the moment of death until the dignified completion of last rites. Newly appointed commission member Jitender Singh Shunty formally forwarded the detailed guidelines to the principal secretary, health and family welfare, Pu...