Today, On 18th December, The Kerala High Court dismissed the petitions filed by M M Lawrence’s daughters, who sought custody of his mortal remains. The court upheld the provisions in the late Communist leader’s will concerning the management of his remains. The daughters contested for the right to conduct the final rites, sparking a family legal dispute. The ruling emphasizes the deceased’s expressed wishes over family disagreements.
The Kerala High Court rejected the appeals of the daughters of veteran communist leader M M Lawrence, who sought to have his mortal remains handed over to them instead of the Government Medical College Hospital.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S Manu dismissed the appeals from Asha Lawrence and Sujatha Boban, both daughters of the late leader, challenging a single judge’s ruling that ordered the remains be given to the medical college.
Advocate Krishna Raj R, representing Asha Lawrence, confirmed the division bench’s decision and stated that his client plans to appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Court’s ruling.
A detailed judgment is still pending.
Dramatic scenes unfolded at the Ernakulam town hall on September 23, where Lawrence’s remains were displayed for public homage, as Asha Lawrence protested the decision to donate her father’s body to the medical college. She later filed a challenge in the High Court against her siblings’ decision to donate their father’s body for educational purposes. Sujatha Boban subsequently filed a similar plea.
A single judge, On October 23,of the High Court dismissed their applications, leading to the current appeals.
The medical college authorities indicated that, according to an affidavit from M L Sajeevan, Lawrence’s son, the leader had consented in March 2024, in front of two witnesses, to donate his remains for educational use.
Lawrence passed away on September 21 at the age of 95.
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