Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the Civil Aviation Minister, Asok Gajapathy Raju to withdraw the new regulation for bringing bodies of non-resident Indians who pass away in a foreign country.
The new regulation is that four documents should be submitted at the airports, where the body is received, 48 hours in advance of bringing bodies from foreign countries.
The regulation also stipulates that the formalities are completed only when permission is given from the native country.
In a letter addressed to the civil aviation minister, the chief minister has said that the new regulation is unpractical and cannot be accepted. He pointed out that what was needed is swift measures to bring the bodies of deceased persons to their native places.
The letter also pointed out that the family of Prakas Damodaran, a native of Wayanad, who had passed away in Dammam in Saudi Arabia recently, was not able to bring his body home due to the new regulations. His body has been kept in Dammam, as the new regulation stood in the way of bringing his home body to Kerala. This led to widespread protests from the organisations representing non-resident Indians.
The resistance from the state also had its impact, as permission was later given to bring his body to Karipur International Airport. It has been learnt that Union Health Deputy Director Surjith Singh had given direction to officials of Karipur airport in this regard.
The body will now be brought on Monday by 9.30 am.