How much Dry Ice can be put inside a Coffin in which a Dead Human Body is shipped in an Aircraft from India - appellant complained that instead of original order of FAA, a fax has been sent to him - CIC: an authenticated copy of FAA order to be provided
1 Nov, 2013
Rule with regard to how much Dry Ice can be put inside a Coffin in which a Dead Human Body is shipped in an Aircraft from India - PIO: procedure for handling of human remains is stipulated in Airport Handling Manual – appellant complained that instead of original order of FAA a fax has been sent to him – CIC: complete information has been disclosed, however an authenticated copy of the order of FAA should be provided
ORDER
1. The Appellant through his RTI application dated 02.02.2012 sought following information:
“Please let me know the rule/laws with regard to how much Dry Ice (Solid Carbon Dioxide) can be put inside a Coffin/Casket in which a Dead Human Body is shipped/sent to the United States of America in an Aircraft from India?”
2. The CPIO replied to this application vide his letter dated 15.02.2012 (copy not enclosed with the present petition), dissatisfied with which the Appellant filed an appeal before the Appellate Authority on 11.03.2012.
3. The Appellate Authority decided this appeal vide his order dated 22.03.2012 providing further information/clarification, received from the concerned department, to the Appellant which reads as follows:
“There are not specific rules/laws in India with regard to usage of Dry Ice for shipping a dead body. The detailed procedure for handling of human remains is stipulated in the current edition of Airport Handling Manual published by IATA in AHM 333. There is no mention of usage of Dry Ice or Carbon Dioxide Solid as a refrigerant for carriage of human remains. The detailed procedure for Dry Ice to be used as a refrigerant is available in packing instructions no. 954 and section 9.3.12 in the current edition of Dangerous goods Regulations published by IATA. The maximum permissible limit for carnage of Dry Ice covered under UN 1845 is 200 kgs. Per package of Air India, maximum limit of 1500 kgs of Dry Ice per aircraft has been determined of …aircraft currently being operated on Indo US sector. The requirement of Emblaming Certificate takes care of the preservence of human remains upto required period. The procedure process and preservence of human remains in the event of post mortem and otherwise may vary. Another reason for avoiding usage of Dry Ice as a refrigerant material is that it would need provision for venting of Carbon Dioxide gas to prevent a dangerous build up of pressure In case these provisions are not made, the possibility of human remains getting damaged due accumulation of Carbon Dioxide gas over a period of time (particularly on long haul flights) cannot be ruled out.”
4. The Appellant thereafter filed the present appeal before the Commission calling the information given by the Appellate Authority “unsatisfactory”. He has also complained that the order of the Appellate Authority sent to him is not original. It is ‘fax copy’ which has been sent to him.
5. Having heard the submissions and perused the records, the Commission notes that the Appellate Authority, besides providing the factual information to the Appellant on the matter, has also given the required clarification to him. Therefore, no further disclosure is needed with respect to the present RTI application of the Appellant. However, considering the Appellant’s complaint that he has not received the original order of the Appellate Authority and has been given a fax copy of the said order, the CPIO is hereby directed to provide an authenticated copy of the order of the Appellate Authority to the Appellant within 1 week of receipt of this order.
(Sushma Singh)
Information Commissioner
Citation: Shri Niraj Vashi v. Air India in Case No. CIC/SS/A/2013/900040