Cadaver remarks row: NHRC warns Health, I&B ministries of coercive action over failure to submit report
National Human Rights Commission
New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has warned to take coercive action against the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting if they fail to submit action-taken reports on a complaint highlighting the harmful impact of repeated obscene and insensitive digital content involving human cadavers.
Writing to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday pointed out that despite its earlier directions issued in June, the ministries failed to furnish an Action-Taken report within the deadline of four weeks.
Accordingly, NHRC has issued a reminder to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to submit the said report within four weeks.
"The Commission vide its proceedings dated 23.06.2026 directed the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India to furnish an Action Taken Report within four weeks. No action taken report has been submitted by the concerned authority till date," NHRC said in the communication.
"As such, a reminder be issued to the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India calling upon them to submit an action taken report in the instant matter within a period of four weeks, failing which the Commission shall be constrained to invoke coercive action u/s 13 of the PHR Act, 1993," the Commission further added.
The Commission has requested that the report in the matter be sent within 21.11.2026, for further consideration by the Commission. "Any communication by public authorities in this matter may please be sent to the Commission through the HRCNet Portal by using id and password already provided to the public authorities (click Authority Login). Any Audio/ Video CDs/ pen drives etc. may be sent through Speed Post/ per bearer. The reports/ responses sent through email may not be entertained," the Commission said.
The initial complaint was submitted by the United Doctors Front (UDF). Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that UDF submitted Public Interest Representation to the National Human Rights Commission New Delhi, seeking the intervention of the Hon'ble Commission regarding serious human rights concerns from repeated controversial content disseminated through the digital comedy platform hosted by the comedian Pranit More.
The association had highlighted the harmful impact of repeated obscene and insensitive digital content. They argued that such content trivialises human cadavers, undermines dignity of women and deceased persons, and erodes public confidence in organ and body donation programmes promoted by the Government of India.
UDF had sought suo-motu cognizance, examination of societal impact, and issuance of advisories discouraging commercialisation of content that undermines human dignity.
In response to the latest NHRC notice, UDF wrote on X, "Human dignity does not end with death. The NHRC has issued a fresh notice in the cadaver dignity matter raised by United Doctors Front, warning of coercive action under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, in case of non-compliance by the concerned ministries. @UDF_BHARAT will continue to stand firm for the dignity of the deceased, responsible digital content, and public trust in organ and body donation. Respect the dead. Uphold human dignity."
The Controversy:
The controversy began during a crowd interaction segment at a live crowdwork comedy show performed and hosted by More.
At one interaction, the comedian reportedly asked an MBBS student whether doctors remain serious while handling cadavers during anatomy postings and post-mortem work.
Responding to this, the concerned medico allegedly made an inappropriate statement about cadavers related to comparing the sizes of male cadavers' private parts while studying anatomy. The video soon went viral and gained severe condemnation from doctors, medical students and social media users.
Members of the medical fraternity said that cadavers are treated with utmost respect in medical colleges because they are donated bodies that help students learn human anatomy. Therefore, they said that such comments hurt the dignity of body donors and could negatively affect public trust in body donation for medical education.
As the backlash intensified, the medico reportedly issued a public apology on social media. In her statement, she said the topic was sensitive and admitted that her comments came across in a way they should not have.
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