(a) whether the process of bringing back the dead bodies of people of Indian origin died while
working abroad is very lengthy and cumbersome and if so, the complete details thereof;
(b) the approximate number of days taken to bring back the dead body from abroad under the present process;
(c) whether the Government proposes to simplify the process for bringing back thedead bodies and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS (SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)
(a) & (b): From time to time, requests from the family members of deceased Indian nationals and Members of Parliaments and Members of Legislative Assemblies are received regarding bringing back their mortal remains. Such requests are also received directly in the Indian Missions abroad.
On receipt of information about the death of an Indian national, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs immediately gets
in touch with the Indian Mission concerned, which then gets in touch with the sponsor and sponsoring companies impressing upon them to complete the formalities immediately and to send the death related documents expeditiously for issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the transportation of the mortal remains. The Mission issues an NOC once the complete documents are presented by the sponsor or the attorney authorized by the family of the deceased. After obtaining the NOC,
the sponsor or the attorney obtains clearance from the local authorities and completes the formalities for transportation
of the body to India. It gets delayed in cases where the sponsor is not cooperating. In the normal course, in the case of natural death it takes 3-4 days to complete the procedural formalities and transport the mortal remains to India except in the case of one or two countries where 3-4 weeks are taken.
In case of un-natural deaths, more time is taken by the local authorities for the completion of initial investigations before giving clearance for transporting the mortal remains, as the police investigates the cause of the death. It takes 4-10 weeks in the case of road accidents/industrial accidents, and 10-16 weeks in suicide and murder cases, to complete the investigation.
(c) & (d): The entire process is subject to norms laid down by the host Governments. The Government of
India, through the concerned Embassy of India, intervenes in cases where the delay seems to be unjustified.