Kerala High Court: Don’t close Ivor Madom for outsiders

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday ruled that a panchayat cannot stop bodies from outside its boundary being cremated in the crematoria within its boundary.

Quashing the decision of the Thiruvilwamala Panchayat to restrict the use of Ivor Madam crematorium for residents within the panchayat, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A M Shaffique, said the panchayat gave no reason for the same.

The court observed that the panchayat was free to provide the option of electronic crematorium to check environmental pollution.

The bodies of several prominent writers and social leaders including O V Vijayan were cremated at the Ivor madom crematorium.