By Matters India Reporter
Jabalpur, June 22, 2023: The Madhya Pradesh High Court on June 22 granted anticipatory bail to a Catholic bishop and nun accused of attempting to convert to Christianity railway destitute children in a diocesan orphanage.
A single judge bench of the high court, based in Jabalpur, granted the anticipatory bail of Bishop Gerald Almeida of Jabalpur and Sister Liji Joseph of Congregation of Mother Carmel.
Police in Madhav Nagar station in Katni district registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the prelate and the nun on May 30 following a complaint from Priyank Kanoongo, the chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Kanoongo alleged that the duo tried to convert children in the orphanage to Christianity and wilfully neglected them.
The diocese-run orphanage Asha Kiran (ray of hope) Children’s Care Institute at Katni railway junction houses 47 children.
Kanoongo filed the complaint a day after he led a team to conduct a surprise inspection of the orphanage.
The local police, under pressure from Kanoongo, registered a criminal case against the prelate and the nun in-charge under the state’s anti-conversion law.
Madhya Pradesh and the federal governments are ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The high court, in its order, questioned the FIR that charged the bishop and the nun with religious conversion.
“In the present case, (a) complaint has been lodged by an individual who conducted (an) inspection. No complaint has been made by (a) person converted or person aggrieved or against whom attempt is made for conversion or by their relatives or blood relatives. In absence of such a written complaint, police (do) not have any jurisdiction to inquire or investigate an offence (conversion charge) committed,” the court order said.
Justice Vishal Dhagat, the judge, ordered that, if arrested, Bishop Almeida of Jabalpur and Sister Joseph should be released on anticipatory bail after they furnish a sum of 100,000 rupees each.
They should also provide two solvent sureties who too should furnish the same amount to the investigating officer or the trial court.
They also have to make regular appearances before the investigating officer or the trial court.
In a similar case on March 22, a case of fraud was registered against Bishop Almeida in Dindori, a tribal-dominated district in Madhya Pradesh. The court has restrained police from taking any coercive action against the prelate as the case is pending for hearing in the high court.
Church leaders accused Kanoongo of implicating Church leaders and those serving missionary schools, hostels and orphanages in false cases.
Relieved to hear this good news. Deo gratias