Family refuses to claim queer partner's body: Kerala man moves HC

Kochi: A Kerala man of the queer community moved the high court to get permission to receive the dead body of his queer partner, who died in a private hospital here. Jebin, the petitioner, was forced to do so after the biological family of his queer partner refused

The deceased, Manu, fell from his house terrace and succumbed to critical injuries at the Aster Medicity hospital here, but his biological family refused to pay his medical bills or receive his mortal remains, The News Minute reported.

Padma Lakshmi, advocate of Jebin, told TNM that her client did not want Manu to be orphaned in death and couldn't let his partner's body go unclaimed. Manu deserves respect, and Jebin wanted the former's last rites conducted.

The Kerala High Court, which heard the matter in urgency, sent Aster Medicity a notice by email on February 5 and posted the hearing to February 6,

Jebin's counsel informed the court that he is ready to pay the full medical expenses of Manu, requesting the court to allow him to collect Manu's body. Their friends have collected the due money for Aster Medicity through online crowdfunding.

However, the court posted another hearing for February 7 to hear the side of Manu's family.

According to the couple's friend and queer rights activist Athul PV, the couple has been living together for the past few years and were married in a traditional ceremony last year. However, marriage is not recognized by the law.

Athul said that Manu's family came to meet him at the hospital, only persuasion from the police. When they learned that there was a bill of Rs 1.5 lakh, they said that they didn't have the money and suggested Manu's friends pay the bill. After that, they would claim Manu's body, they said and left the hospital without leaving notice.

In October last year, a Supreme Court bench, helmed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, refused to approve marriage equality for LGBTQIA+ persons, stating that it was up to the Parliament to create a law, TNM reported.

After his fall, Manu was critically injured and was in ventilator support for two days in Aster Medicity. He was declared dead after.