State Funeral

Why in News?

The former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was recently given a state funeral and national mourning.

• State funeral – It is when a person of importance is laid to rest in an elaborate ceremony following laid-down rules, involving members of the public in the mourning.
• It can include a gun salute, draping of the coffin with the tricolour, and laying of wreaths by mourners.
• Gazette notification by – Union Home Ministry.
• Relevant arrangements by – Union Defence Ministry.
• Beneficiaries – It is accorded in the event of the death of important personnel.
  • For example, the president, prime minister, former president or governor, sitting cabinet ministers, governors, lieutenant governors, Lok Sabha speaker, chief justice of the Supreme Court, chief ministers and Bharat Ratna awardees.
• Centre has the authority to extend for other dignitaries who have made significant contributions towards the nation.
  • For examples, it was given to late industrialist Ratan Tata and singer Lata Mangeshkar.
• Participants – It has to be attended by all the gazetted officers of government who may be present in the station.
• Service personnel will wear dress as for state functions.
• Status of National flag - At a time of ‘state mourning’, the national flag is flown at half-mast at different locations.

According to the Flag Code of India, the national flag is flown at half-mast throughout India in case of a sitting president, prime minister, vice-president and former president, and in Delhi in the case of the passing of the Lok Sabha speaker and the chief justice of India.

• Draping of national flag – On the dignitary’s body, over the coffin with the saffron towards the head of the coffin.
• It shall not be lowered into the grave or burnt in the pyre.
• Public holiday – It is restricted to the death of a sitting prime minister or president.
• However, there have been some departures from protocol.

• No official entertainments are held during national or state mourning.

References

1. The Indian Express| State Funeral for late Manmohan Singh
2. The Print| Rules and Procedure of State Funeral