Chandy's family declines full state honours at funeral

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Oommen Chandy's family has declined full state honours at the funeral of the former chief minister who died in Bengaluru after a prolonged illness on Tuesday.

The family said it was Chandy's wish that his funeral service should be kept a simple affair without any state honours. Chandy's wife Mariamma conveyed the former chief minister's wish to the senior officials of the General Administration Department (GAD).

She told officials that only religious ceremonies were enough and guard of honour or state honours are not required during the funeral service.  

Earlier presiding over the Cabinet meeting, the chief minister had informed his colleagues that Oommen  Chandy would be accorded full state honours at the funeral. Chief Secretary V Venu was asked to convey the Cabinet’s decision regarding full state honours to the family members and seek their opinion on the matter. The family however turned down the state honours.

The Cabinet also offered its deepest condolences to the family of the former chief minister.

The Cabinet recalled Chandy's enormous contribution to the state's development.  

Oommen Chandy's funeral is scheduled to take place at 3.30 pm at the St George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally in Kottayam district on Thursday.

The funeral service will be led by  His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

A condolence meet will be held at 5 pm. Prominent people including ministers, senior political leaders, religious and social leaders and personalities from various walks of life will share their association with Chandy.