In The News

Judges back plans for funeral pyre cremation

Judges back plans for funeral pyre cremation

The Court of Appeal has backed plans by a devout Hindu to be cremated on a traditional funeral pyre when he dies.

Davender Ghai, who is 71, has been fighting through the courts for several years. He launched the legal action after Newcastle City Council refused him permission for the traditional cremation in 2006. Last year the High Court upheld the Council’s decision.

However, Judges at the Court of Appeal have overturned the lower court’s decision. The Judges backed Davender Ghai’s plans after he said the funeral pyre would be surrounded by walls and a roof with an opening.

The court ruled a definition of the term ‘building’ within the 1902 Cremation Act, which was reached by the Department of Justice, was ‘too narrow’.

Mr. Ghai welcomed the ruling, adding, “I always maintained that I wanted to clarify the law, not disobey or disrespect it”.

 

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