Have Some Respect For The Dead: Says Kerala HC Orally, Suggests Mediation For Dispute On Donation Of CPI(M) Veteran MM Lawrence's Body
Suggesting mediation with respect to the dispute over donation of deceased former CPI(M) veteran M. M. Lawrence's body, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday (December 3) orally remarked that there must be respect shown to the person who has passed away. The court was hearing Lawrence's daughter Asha Lawrence who had preferred an appeal against the decision of Single Bench allowing the donation...
Suggesting mediation with respect to the dispute over donation of deceased former CPI(M) veteran M. M. Lawrence's body, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday (December 3) orally remarked that there must be respect shown to the person who has passed away.
The court was hearing Lawrence's daughter Asha Lawrence who had preferred an appeal against the decision of Single Bench allowing the donation of body to Ernakulam Medical College.
Soon after the death of Lawerence on September 21, Asha Lawrence approached the Kerala High Court to prevent handing over her father's body to Medical College by her siblings and CPI(M). She argued that her father never expressed any interest to donate his body to the medical college. She urged that the body ought to be buried according to the Christian rites.
During the course of the hearing today, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S. Manu observed that the Kerala Anatomy Act does not envisage dispute resolution between family members. It observed that the matter is essentially a civil dispute between family members.
“At least have respect for the person who passed away”, the Bench observed orally.
The Court directed the parties to suggest the name of a senior lawyer to mediate upon this issue.
The matter is next posted on December 9.
Case Title: Asha Lawrence v State of Kerala and Others
Case No: WA 1857/ 2024