New Delhi: In a serious case of mix up of dead bodies, the Ernakulam Medical Center Hospital was ordered to pay Rs 25 lakh as compensation to the complainants by the Supreme Court. 

In 2009, the dead bodies of Purushothaman and Kanti, who died while undergoing treatment, were mixed up while handing over the corpses to their relatives.

On a complaint filed by Purushothaman's children P R Jayashree and P R Rani, the State Consumer Commission had directed the hospital to pay a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to them along with a 12 percent interest. However,  in the petition filed by the hospital against this, the National Commission directed it to pay an amount of Rs 5 lakh to the family of Purushothaman and Rs 25 lakh to the legal assistance account of the State Consumer Commission.

On the petitions filed by the hospital and Purushothaman's children questioning this, the Supreme Court bench, chaired by Justice Hima Koli, now directed the hospital to pay Rs 25 lakh to Purushothaman’s family only. The apex court, however, reduced the interest to 7.5 percent.

Senior advocate V Chidambaram and Adv Karthik Ashok appeared for Purushothaman's children.