Cap. 465 Art. 37Burial, cremation, orremovalofbody to mortuary.

(1) No person shall, unless authorised by the

Superintendent, retain the body of any person who has died from a disease for more than twenty-four hours, in a room used as a dwelling-place, sleeping-place or workroom:

Provided that nothing contained in this article shall prevent the removal of such body, before the lapse of twenty-four hours, to a mortuary where such removal becomes necessary under any provisions of this Act or any other law.

(2) It shall not be lawful for any person to remove the body of a person who dies at home, in any hospital or in any other place provided for the treatment of persons suffering from a disease, except for the purpose of immediate burial, where a medical officer certifies that in his opinion it is desirable, in order to prevent the risk of communicating such disease or of spreading infection, that such body shall not be removed from such home, hospital or place except for such burial:

Provided that nothing in this sub article shall prevent the Superintendent from authorising the removal of such dead body to a mortuary designated by the said Superintendent.

(3) The Superintendent or an authorised officer may order the removal of a dead body to a mortuary if -

(a) the person died of any notifiable disease and is lying in a dwelling in which persons live or sleep; or

(b) whatever the cause of death, the body is in such a state as to pose a risk to health.

(4) A person who does not comply with the provisions of this article shall be guilty of an offence.

(5) Unless any relative of the deceased undertakes to bury or cremate the body and effect such burial or cremation within the period of time stipulated by such order as aforesaid, it shall be the duty of the Superintendent to cause the burial or cremation of such body, and any expense so incurred may be recovered by the Superintendent as a civil debt.