In a case that drew scrutiny and sparked debate, a Kerala sessions court has closed proceedings against two Christian nuns and three others accused of trafficking minor girls from Jharkhand for domestic work in convents. The verdict? No coercion, no exploitation, no case.
The Additional Sessions Court in Thrissur, presided over by Judge K Kamanees, found that the girls—aged between 15 and 18—had travelled to Kerala with full knowledge and consent of their parents. There was no material evidence of force, deceit, or abuse that would qualify under the stringent definitions of human trafficking under Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code.
“The prosecution has utterly failed to present even a prima facie case,” the court ruled. “None of the survivors mentioned threats, deception, or inducement. There are no allegations of bondage, servitude, or exploitation. The girls hadn’t even started working. In fact, there was no denial of wages because no work had begun.”
The case had its origins at Thrissur Railway Station, where Childline officials, acting on a hunch, intercepted the trio of minor girls arriving on the Dhanbad–Alleppey Express. A flurry of questions followed, documents were checked, and a trafficking complaint was promptly filed with the railway police.
Charges under Sections 370(1), (2), and (5) of the IPC, along with Section 34, were soon slapped on the five accused—including the two nuns, both Mother Superiors in local convents. But as the investigation unfolded, the narrative began to unravel.
Statements from the girls and their parents painted a different picture. Medical exams confirmed their minor status, but the girls denied being forced, promised money, or held against their will. There was no evidence of recruitment under false pretenses or any attempt at slavery-like exploitation.
In the end, the Court emphasized what was missing rather than what was alleged: no threats, no deceit, no abuse of power, and most crucially, no intention to exploit. With no legal ground to proceed, the case was shut, and all five accused were discharged.
Justice, in this instance, came not with a bang but with a meticulous dismantling of assumptions.
