Cadavers deserve dignity: NHRC seeks ATR from Health, information, broadcasting ministries on doctors' complaint against viral remarks

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B Ministry) after receiving a complaint from a doctors' body regarding alleged obscene and insensitive digital content involving human cadavers.

In a communication on June 23, 2026, the complaint submitted by Dr. Lakshya Mittal, Chairperson of the United Doctors Front (UDF), was placed before the Commission on the same day.

After examining the complaint, the Commission directed that copies of the representation be sent to both ministries and asked them to submit an Action Taken Report within four weeks.

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.

UDF Chairperson, Dr Lakshya Mittal urged the Commission to take Suo Motu Cognizance of the matter, issue suitable recommendations or advisories to discourage the commercialisation of content that undermines human dignity and nationally promoted public-interest initiatives and pass any other order deemed fit in the interest of justice and protection of human rights.

"This representation is not intended to interfere with any ongoing investigation or seek punitive action against any individual participant. It seeks consideration of the larger issue of platform responsibility and the wider societal impact of repeatedly commercialising obscene, degrading and insensitive content. The medical fraternity is equally concerned about content trivialising and sexualising human cadavers. Every cadaver used in medical education represents a noble body donation made for the advancement of science and deserves dignity and respect. At a time when the Government of India is actively promoting organ donation and whole-body donation through nationwide awareness programmes, such content has the potential to erode public confidence, discourage prospective donors and undermine years of public-interest efforts," mentioned the representation.

Following this, NHRC Joint Registrar (Law) Indrajeet Kumar forwarded the complaint to the Health Ministry and the I&B Ministry for appropriate action and requested that their reports be submitted within four weeks from the date of receipt of the communication.

"Let a copy of complaint be transmitted to the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India calling for an Action Taken Report within four weeks. Put up after four weeks. Accordingly, I am forwarding herewith a copy of the complaint/ intimation as an attachment for taking appropriate action in the matter as per the directions of the Commission. It is requested that an Action Taken Report be sent to the Commission within 4 weeks from the date of receipt of this letter," mentioned the letter.

The matter will be taken up again by the Commission after four weeks,

The Controversy

The controversy began during a crowd interaction segment at "The Ashleel Show", a live crowdwork comedy show performed and hosted by More, organised by The Laugh Store.

At one interaction, the comedian reportedly asked the 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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