PHRC Member Jatinder Shanty warns hospitals against withholding dead bodies over unpaid bills
Zira/Ferozepur, October 24, 2026: Hospitals cannot refuse to hand over the body of a deceased person to the family on the ground of unpaid treatment bills, and any hospital violating this direction could face an FIR and strict action, said Padma Shri awardee and member of the Punjab State and Chandigarh Human Rights Commission, Jatinder Singh Shanty.
Addressing a public hearing at Jan Kalyan Bhawan, Zira, on Saturday, Shanty said the Commission was committed to protecting human rights and was working to create awareness among people across Punjab. He said the Commission was particularly reaching out to NGOs, senior citizens, lawyers, doctors, students, traders and representatives of various organisations in different districts.
Speaking about human rights in the health sector, he said the National Human Rights Commission had already issued directions against hospitals withholding the bodies of deceased patients because of pending treatment bills. A copy of the relevant order was handed over to the Chief Medical Officer during the hearing, with directions to ensure that posters carrying the instructions were displayed in all hospitals across the district.
Shanty further said hospitals should have essential facilities such as a mortuary and ambulance. He warned that strict action would be taken against hospitals found violating human rights in such matters.
During the public hearing, complaints relating to the police, District Development and Panchayat Office (DDPO), Health Department, municipal council and other departments were heard. Directions were issued on the spot to the concerned officials for appropriate redressal of the grievances.
Shanty said the Punjab Human Rights Commission (PHRC) had constituted a core group in every district to monitor human rights violations and assist the district administration and the Commission in resolving minor complaints at the local level. These groups would comprise human rights activists, lawyers and other experts.
He said the district-level core groups would particularly help people who were unable to travel to Chandigarh to approach the Commission due to financial or other constraints.
Shanty also announced the Commission's WhatsApp helpline number, 98554-75547, for reporting human rights violations. He said complaints could be lodged through the helpline round the clock.
He said ignoring people's grievances at the local level and failure by residential societies to fulfil commitments made to residents could also amount to human rights violations, adding that the Commission could take suo motu cognisance of such matters.
He said accountability had improved with the establishment of human rights commissions and assured that strict action was being taken against those responsible for human rights violations.
Shanty also appreciated the contribution of social organisations and volunteers in Ferozepur district who had been helping people during the anti-drug campaign, natural disasters and other social welfare activities.
ADC (General) Dr Amandeep Kaur, SDM Zira Suraj, State Core Committee member Bhola Singh Virk, SP(H) Baljit Singh, Tehsildar Zira Vinod Kumar, Naib Tehsildar Makhu Parampal Singh, core group members Gurnam Sidhu, Narinder Singh Kesar, Amarjit Kaur Chhabra, Baba Satnam Singh Vallian, Gurnoor Brar, Aman Monga, Ramandeep Kaur and Tota Singh, besides representatives of NGOs, officials of various departments and other prominent personalities, were present.