Indian Diaspora Seeks Urgent Government Intervention Over Delays in Repatriating Mortal Remains

July 26, 2025

🚨 Grave Concern Raised by Indian Diaspora Over Passport-Linked Repatriation Delays

Airlines’ refusal to transport bodies without original passports creates humanitarian crisis

Prominent Indian diaspora advocacy groups have made an urgent appeal to the Indian government, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis faced by bereaved families attempting to repatriate mortal remains of their loved ones from abroad. The crux of the issue: airlines are refusing to transport remains unless the deceased’s original passport is presented—even when an Indian Embassy or Consulate has issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC).

📬 Appeal to Home Secretary of India

In a detailed letter sent to Home Secretary Govind Mohan, groups including TEAM Aid and Jaipur Foot USA called for immediate relief and a policy-level resolution to the logistical nightmare. The letter, authored by Prem Bhandari (Chairman, Jaipur Foot USA) and Mohan Nannapaneni (Founder, TEAM Aid), outlines several real-life cases where families were denied the right to bring their loved ones home due to the lack of an original passport at the time of death.

📌 Root of the Crisis: Bureau of Immigration Penalties

The issue escalated after Air India was fined by India’s Bureau of Immigration for carrying mortal remains without original passports. In response, Air India implemented a blanket refusal policy. Other carriers have followed suit, effectively paralyzing the process of transporting bodies—despite NOCs from Indian diplomatic missions.

⚰️ Delays Caused by Inaccessible Passports

The groups noted that in numerous tragic circumstances—including accidents, suicides, or homicides—the deceased’s passport is either:

Held by local authorities or police during investigations;
Retained by immigration or customs authorities;
Or simply inaccessible when the deceased lived alone and the residence is sealed.

This results in bodies lying in morgues for days or weeks while families plead for diplomatic and bureaucratic help.

🧾 Case Spotlight: The Tragedy of Rahul Patel

In a particularly harrowing case, Rahul Patel, an Indian citizen who died under tragic and unnatural circumstances in the United States, continues to lie in a Chicago funeral home—despite full documentation, including an NOC. The only hurdle: his passport is stuck with U.S. customs authorities for cancellation. Airlines are refusing to proceed without it, leaving his family in Gujarat in emotional distress.

As Prem Bhandari stated:

“For over a week now, Rahul’s remains have not moved. His brother calls every night. Their family has not slept. This is not just a bureaucratic problem—it's an emotional crisis.”

🛑 No Dignified End Despite Embassy Cooperation

Even when Indian embassies and consulates issue a valid No Objection Certificate, airport immigration authorities in India have been known to delay clearance, demanding the original passport. This exacerbates the pain of already grieving families, disrupting religious rites and final rituals that are time-sensitive and deeply sacred in Indian culture.

🧭 What the Advocacy Groups Are Demanding

A formal circular from the Government of India to all airlines, airport authorities, and immigration officials to accept consular NOCs as valid documentation for the transport and clearance of mortal remains.
End to penalties for carriers who transport remains based on Embassy-issued documentation.
A standard operating procedure to streamline and simplify the process of repatriation when passports are unavailable due to official reasons.

🔍 TEAM Aid’s Ground Experience

TEAM Aid’s President Mohan Nannapaneni noted that his team has successfully facilitated over 4,000 mortal repatriations from North America to India. However, the tightening of procedural requirements has made their work increasingly difficult—turning dignified death rituals into bureaucratic nightmares.

“We used to ship remains with the help of NOCs. Now, families must wait for passport clearance—which may never come. It’s heartbreaking.”

🧑‍⚖️ A Call for Humanitarian Policy

The advocacy letter emphasized that penalizing airlines in cases where the Indian consulate confirms nationality and issues an NOC is not only excessive, but undermines the government's own humanitarian responsibilities. The existing system, they argue, is devoid of empathy and must be urgently reformed.

“This is not a paperwork problem—it’s about dignity in death, closure for families, and the reputation of a country that cares for its citizens abroad.”

🕊️ Conclusion: A Crisis Demanding Compassion, Not Red Tape

The appeal made by Jaipur Foot USA and TEAM Aid resonates with thousands of Indian families around the globe. As the Indian diaspora grows, so does the need for responsive, humane policies that enable closure, not chaos, in the face of personal tragedy.

Until corrective measures are introduced, grieving families will continue to endure emotional trauma far beyond their loss—simply to bring their loved ones home.