Kochi: A row erupted at Njarakkal police station over the alleged denial of a no objection certificate (NOC) to keep the body of a 46-year-old man, who died at a palliative care facility in Elamkunnapuzha on Saturday night, at a mortuary. Police later issued the NOC after Elamkunnapuzha panchayat president Bernard Benny refused to leave the station until it was granted.
The palliative care centre, Jeramiah’s Home, had been caring for the man since March, when he was discharged from Govt Medical College, Kottayam, according to Benny. I told them if they had reservations, they could conduct an autopsy and then keep the body. They weren’t ready for that either, leading to arguments,” Benny said.
When staff approached Njarakkal police seeking an NOC to keep the body at Ernakulam General Hospital’s mortuary, the station house officer (SHO) refused. An NOC is mandatory for keeping a body in the mortuary until relatives arrive; unclaimed bodies are otherwise buried or handed to medical colleges for study after being advertised in newspapers. Staff then informed Benny, who reached the station and objected. “The SHO is the authority to issue the NOC. Police relented around 9pm. Police have registered a case against Benny for obstructing duty and threatening the SHO. When contacted, Njarakkal police declined to comment.
Police reportedly cited the natural cause of death and the fact that they had not been informed of it earlier as reasons for the refusal.