Owing to the issues faced by families of people dying of non-COVID causes in disposing of the bodies, the civic body's health department has directed that a 2010 notice be referred to in handing over these bodies. Relatives have been having a tough time procuring a 'cause of death medical certificate' during the pandemic, leading to trouble in disposing of the body. The civic body has, therefore, issued the circular that relaxes the norms for disposal of dead bodies. Forensic surgeons have, however, expressed reservations about this.

The executive health officer, in his circular dated January 13, 2010, had stated, "Dead bodies brought without Cause of Death Medical Certificates to the cemeteries are disposed under the Registration of Birth and Death Act, 1969. For disposal of any dead body, Cause of Death Medical Certificate is compulsory. In some cases, the relatives are not in a position to produce it since the last illness of the person was not attended to by the doctors.