Date: 2026-01-29Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported protest by Kalbelia community demanding a designated place for burial of their kins in Barmer District Rajasthan
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has taken *suo motu* cognizance of a media report regarding a protest by the Kalbelia community in the Barmer district of Rajasthan on December 29, 2025. The community was protesting the lack of a designated burial ground for their dead, as they follow the Nath tradition of burial, unlike other communities with allocated cremation or graveyard grounds. The NHRC has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Rajasthan, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. The NHRC views this as a potential human rights violation, highlighting the duty of the State to uphold the dignity and protect the rights of the dead. In May 2021, the Commission issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories on upholding the dignity and protecting the rights of the dead. The Kalbelia families are reportedly being forced to bury their dead on private lands and are facing resistance, abuse and eviction. The release ID is 2220273, and the visitor counter is 116. The notice was issued on January 29, 2026, at 5:46 PM by PIB Delhi.
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): India's human rights body, which took suo motu cognizance of the Kalbelia community burial site issue.
Kalbelia community: A community protesting for a designated place for burial in Barmer District, Rajasthan.
Rajasthan: The state where the incident and subsequent action by NHRC occurred, specifically the Barmer District.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the
reported protest by Kalbelia community
demanding a designated place for burial of their
kins in Barmer District Rajasthan
Reportedly, unlike cremation grounds or graveyards for other
communities, no burial grounds allocated for Kalbelia
community by the administration
Notice issued to the state Chief Secretary, Govt. of Rajasthan,
calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks
प्रव तथ: 29 JAN 2026 5:46PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC) India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report
that people of Kalbelia community staged a protest by placing a dead body on road demanding a
designated place for burial of their kins in Barmer district of Rajasthan on 29th December 2025.
Reportedly, Kalbelias follow the Nath tradition under which their dead kins are buried and not cremated.
But unlike designated cremation grounds or graveyards for other communities, no burial grounds have
been allocated for Kalbelia community by the administration.
The Commission has observed that the content of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of human
rights violation. Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan, calling
for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.
The Commission is of the view that it is the duty of the State to uphold the dignity and protect the rights of
the dead. Earlier in May 2021, the Commission had issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories
on upholding the dignity and protecting the rights of the dead.
According to the media report, carried on 30th December 2025, the grieving Kalbelia families are
generally forced to bury their dead on private lands due to lack of designated places. Hence, they face
resistance, abuse and many times even eviction.
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NSK
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2220273) आगंतुक पटल : 116
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu