The Kerala High Court, on Wednesday, December 18, dismissed a plea challenging the donation of late CPI(M) leader MM Lawrence's body to the Ernakulam Medical College. The court ruled that the body should be handed over to the Medical College, upholding the wishes of Lawrence's son.
Asha Lawrence, the daughter of the deceased, had filed the plea challenging the donation. Following Lawrence's death on September 21, Asha attempted to prevent the body from being transported to the Medical College, leading to a commotion where CPI(M) leaders intervened.
A single bench of the High Court had initially ruled in favor of the Medical College, prompting Asha and her sister, Sujatha, to appeal to the division bench.
The division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S Manu ruled that the body be given to the Medical College as Lawrence's son said it was his father's wish. Asha expressed her disappointment with the decision and stated her intention to appeal to the Supreme Court.
"My father's father also was an atheist and he was also interned in the family parish, and so was my mother. My father has never said that he should have a different mode," Asha told reporters. She argued that neither she nor her sister had any knowledge of their father expressing a desire for his body to be donated to the Medical College.
MM Lawrence, a prominent figure in the Centre of India Trade Unions (CITU) and a former Lok Sabha member representing Idukki in 1980, passed away at the age of 95.