HC overrules panchayat's ban on cremating outsiders at 'South Kashi' or Ivor Madom

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday quashed an order issued by a panchayat in Thrissur banning outsiders from cremating bodies of their dead at the panchayat cremation ground at Ivor Madom, a place known as the ‘Kashi of the South’.
Ruling against the decision of Thiruvilwamala panchayat, a division bench comprising chief justice Ashok Bhushan and justice AM Shaffique said it cannot be considered as a legally-valid decision and that such a ban cannot be imposed when the belief exists that conducting cremation at Ivor Madom as per Hindu rituals would result in the departed souls to attain eternal peace, or ‘Moksha’.
The court also said the panchayat can overcome the environmental pollution and other alleged health problems faced by the residents by using modern systems such as electrical crematoriums. The court has also asked the state government to extend financial aid for such initiatives by the panchayat.
It was decided by the panchayat to impose a ban when people from other states began bringing bodies to be cremated at Ivor Madom. At present, 200 bodies can be cremated here at a time and there are facilities to conduct rituals as per all the sects of Hinduism. Around 70-80 bodies used to be brought here from different places, including from outside Kerala, in a day. Panchayat’s decision was based on persistent complaints from residents that waste from the cremation ground close to Bharathappuzha is polluting the river and the environment.
The panchayat’s decision was questioned in the court in a petition filed by lawyers KK Krishnakumar and C Krishnadas. A petition was filed by the panchayat also questioning state government’s decision to stay the ban imposed by the panchayat. Additionally, a priest associated with the cremation had sought police protection alleging that cremation is being blocked by certain persons.