The Chhattisgarh High Court has recently taken a firm stance on the right to dignity in death, addressing two separate incidents involving state and railway authorities.

Tribal Man’s Death Due to Delayed Ambulance

In March 2025, the High Court took suo motu cognizance of a news report detailing the death of a tribal man who waited 11 hours for an ambulance and then faced a 4-hour delay for a hearse. The state government argued that there was no provision for compensation in such cases. However, the court emphasized that imposing fines on service providers was insufficient and that affected families deserve compensation. Consequently, the court directed the Chhattisgarh government to pay ₹2 lakh to the deceased’s family .

Cancer Patient’s Death at Railway Station

In a separate case, a cancer patient died at a railway station, and her body remained unattended for an hour due to the absence of ambulance services. The court criticized the railways for not taking immediate action and highlighted that large organizations should proactively arrange for the respectful transportation of the deceased. The Bilaspur Divisional Railway Manager was ordered to pay ₹1 lakh to the deceased’s family .

The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 28, 2025, and has mandated that the state health secretary and the Bilaspur DRM file affidavits confirming compliance with the compensation orders.

These rulings underscore the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the dignity of individuals, even in death, and holding authorities accountable for lapses in service delivery.

Sources