In a poignant legal dispute, the Kerala High Court refused to intervene in the donation of the late CPI(M) leader MM Lawrence’s body to a medical college, despite his daughter’s opposition. Asha Lawrence, his daughter, had challenged the family decision, claiming that her father’s body should be buried according to Christian traditions rather than being donated.
Asha alleged that her siblings and the CPI(M) party had fabricated claims about her father’s wish to donate his body, portraying him as a staunch atheist for political motives. She argued that, despite his political stance, her father remained deeply connected to Christian rites and traditions. She pointed to family milestones, including her own baptism and their Christian marriage ceremonies, as evidence of his enduring religious ties.
However, the court determined that an oral expression of a desire to donate a body, witnessed by two or more people, was legally valid under the Kerala Anatomy Act. Her siblings filed an affidavit confirming their father’s expressed wish for his body to be used for medical research, which played a pivotal role in the court’s decision.
While dismissing Asha’s plea, the court did order the principal of the Ernakulam Government Medical College to evaluate her concerns before proceeding. In the meantime, the body will be preserved until a final decision is reached. The ruling underscored that written consent was not necessary for such donations, as long as the intent was clearly conveyed in the presence of others.
Though Asha hoped for her father’s burial to follow religious customs, the court’s decision stands as a testament to her father’s apparent wish for his body to serve a scientific purpose, echoing both personal and political dimensions in the aftermath of his passing.
