Decision to repatriate mortal remains to be made on the basis of citizenship, rules: Kerala HC

Any decision on repatriation of the mortal remains of a person ought to be made primarily on the basis of citizenship and rules, the Kerala High Court has held.

The court was hearing a plea by a maternal uncle of a person who died in the U.K., seeking a direction to repatriate his nephew’s mortal remains to India. The person had over time acquired U.K. citizenship. After his death, the Indian embassy in the U.K. sought an Indian passport or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, to bring his body to India.