The Kerala High Court on Monday ordered that veteran CPI-M leader MM Lawrence’s mortal remains be kept safely in the mortuary of the Government Medical College Hospital, Kalamassery, Ernakulam till a decision on handing over the body to the medical college for study purposes of medical students is taken as per the Anatomy Act.
Asha Lawrence, daughter of MM Lawrence has approached the Kerala High Court aggrieved by the decision of her siblings and the CPI-M to hand over her father’s body to the Government Medical College hospital, Kalamassery, Ernakulam for study purposes of medical college students.
While considering the plea filed by Asha Lawrence, a single bench of Justice V G Arun directed the Principal of Government Medical College, Kalamaserry, Ernakulam to consider the objections submitted by the petitioner before taking a decision.
“In light of the submissions made and not expressing anything on merits, this writ petition is disposed of directing the Principal of Government Medical College, Kalamaserry, Ernakulam to consider objections raised by the petitioner before taking a decision on the basis of the affidavit submitted by other children. As the State Attorney submitted, after taking possession also, the body will be preserved for some time, no further order in the manner in which the body is to be kept after taking over is issued,” the court said.
In her petition, Asha Lawrence submitted that the decision to hand over her father’s body to the medical college hospital was taken without her consent. It was submitted that the decision to hand over the body for study purposes of medical college students without adhering to Christian funeral rites was made to the media unilaterally.
She submitted that her father was baptized and remained as a parish member of the church throughout his life. It was submitted that her parents’ marriage was solemnised in the church and that he also baptized all his children in the church.
She submitted that her father followed all Christian rituals and rites in the church and that his funeral must also be conducted in the church. It was submitted that even though her father belonged to the Communist Party, he was not against the Christian rituals and religious beliefs.
“Actually this decision was taken by the CPI-M to keep the image that their leader M M Lawrence was an atheist and live the life of an atheist which specifically suppresses the fact that father of the petitioner was a member of the parish and had done all necessary rituals in his life on various occasions following Christian rites and rituals and also to suppress the fact that the father of the petitioner was not averse to Christian religious faith”, Asha stated in her petition.
Asha Lawrence further submitted that her father never expressed such wishes and stated that non-burial of the body as per Christian faith will cause irreparable loss. It was submitted that when there is no documentary evidence, his body cannot be handed over to the Medical College Hospital.
During the hearing of the case, the counsel appearing for Asha’s siblings submitted that their father had expressed his wishes to hand over his body to the Medical College Hospital to them and his followers. It was submitted that they filed an affidavit expressing that it was their father’s wish to hand over his body.
Veteran CPI-M leader and former central committee member of the Left party, MM Lawrence passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on Saturday at the age of 95.
One of the first generation leaders of the undivided Communist Party of India (CPI), Lawrence was an activist of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and later the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). As a young trade unionist he played a key role in organising port and factory workers in Kochi.
A former convenor of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state, Lawrence served as a Member of the Lok Sabha representing Idukki constituency from 1980 to 1984.