KOCHI: The principal of Ernakulam Medical College has decided to receive the body of senior CPM leader MM Lawrence for medical studies of the students. Principal Dr MS Pratap Somnath issued the order at 8.30 pm after holding a hearing with MM Lawrence's three children as per the directions of the High Court on a petition filed by younger daughter Asha Lawrence that the body should be buried in the church. Asha Lawrence said she would file an appeal against this.

MM Lawrence's elder daughter Sujatha Boban, who along with his son Adv ML Sajeevan had given her consent form to hand over the body for studies, changed her stand at the hearing and demanded that the body be buried in the church. Sajeevan also clarified that Sujatha has changed her stand. Sujatha told Kerala Kaumudi that she will not respond.

The hearing, which began at 1 pm under the Kerala Anatomy Act by a committee headed by the principal and comprising heads of departments, continued till 5.30 pm. The committee heard all three of them separately.

Advocate Sajeevan, a senior government pleader, was firm in his stand that the body should be given for study. Though the deceased did not give his wish in writing, Abi Abraham, son of Lawrence's younger brother, and PS Rajan, son of his brother-in-law, were produced as witnesses to what he said orally. The committee recorded the statements of both of them.

Principal's complaint against Asha's lawyer

Principal Dr MS Prathap Somnath lodged a complaint with the Kalamassery police alleging that Asha Lawrence's lawyer Adv R Krishnaraj called him over the phone and threatened him during the hearing. According to the complaint, he was threatened with an "Ill fix you" manner threat during the hearing as per the directions of the High Court.