Body of Manu handed over to relatives, court permits gay partner to pay last respects

KOCHI: The body of the youth who fell from his flat while living with his gay partner has been handed over to his relatives. The family of the youth identified as Manu (34), a native of Kannur, accepted the body after the high court ordered to hand it over to his relatives. Manu's partner Jebin Joseph, a native of Kottayam, approached the high court after the hospital authorities informed that they would not release the body without paying the bill.

The high court allowed Jebin to pay his last respects to the body at Kalamassery Medical College. Manu's body will be taken to Kannur after post-mortem. Jebin also asked the court to allow him to accompany the body. The high court directed him to reach a consensus after talking to Manu's relatives.

Manu and Jebin are the third gay couple in Kerala to get married. Manu was injured on February 3 after falling from his flat in Kalamassery. He was then admitted to Kalamassery Medical College and then to a private hospital. Manu died on the fourth day while undergoing treatment. When the relatives came to know about the death, they said that they could not pay the hospital bill of Rs one lakh.

Jebin, his partner, then came forward to receive Manu's body and perform the last rites, but the hospital authorities refused to hand over the body as he has no blood relation. Following this, Jebin approached the high court.