'Show some respect to deceased': Mediator to settle dispute over MM Lawrence's body 

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has said that it would be appropriate to settle the dispute between the children of late CPM leader MM Lawrence in mediation talks. Senior advocate NN Sugunapalan has been assigned the task of mediation. A bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S Manu was hearing an appeal filed by MM Lawrence's daughter Asha seeking that Lawrence's body be handed over to her for cremation as per religious rituals. Another daughter, Sujatha, also supports Asha's stand.

The single bench had earlier upheld the decision of Lawrence's son ML Sajeevan to hand over the body for study purposes. The order was based on the assessment that Lawrence had conveyed this wish before his death and there were witnesses to it. Asha's appeal is against this. The body has been kept at Ernakulam government medical college.

When the appeal was considered yesterday, the counsel for the petitioners argued that the provisions of the Kerala Anatomy Act were invoked. However, the Chief Justice pointed out that the issue was basically a dispute between family members. The court also said that a settlement should be taken after discussing with each other. "The anatomy law was brought in with good intentions. The issue of the petitioners is outside that and respect should be shown to the deceased," the court said. The petition will be considered again on Monday. Mediation talks will be held by then.