M.M. Lawrence
| Photo Credit: R.K. Nithin
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday (December 18, 2024) dismissed an appeal filed by Asha Lawrence and Sujatha Boban, daughters of the late CPI(M) leader M.M. Lawrence, against a single judge’s order to hand over their father’s body to the Ernakulam Government Medical College.
The Bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S. Manu had asserted earlier this month that the matter should be resolved amicably by the family members and not by the court.
This suggestion was made while hearing appeals filed by Asha Lawrence and Sujatha Boban challenging a Single Bench order that allowed their brother, M.L. Sajeevan, to donate their father’s body to the medical college. The daughters’ contention was that their father’s body ought to be buried as per Christian rites.
A mediator appointed subsequently by the court to resolve the dispute between the two sisters on one side and the late leader’s son on the other had reported that he could not arrive at a settlement as parties were not amenable to any suggestions and stuck to their views.
A Single Bench had previously directed the Principal of the medical college to consider Ms. Asha Lawrence’s objections before taking a decision. After reviewing her objections, the Principal rejected them and accepted the body for educational purposes and the Single Bench upheld this decision.
Ms. Asha Lawrence went on to file a second petition, which too was dismissed, leading to the current appeals. Subsequently, Ms. Boban supported Ms. Asha Lawrence’s appeal and said that their father had expressed a desire to be buried in the church cemetery.
Published – December 18, 2024 11:59 am IST
