Image Courtesy:livelaw.in
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted pre-arrest bail to the Principal of a Convent School after it was alleged by a terminated employee that she tried to convert her and her family, by allurement.
The applicant, Sister Bhagya, Principal of the Sacred Heart Convent High School, filed for anticipatory bail for a case registered against her at Police Station Khajuraho, Chhatarpur, under sections 3 and 5 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020. It has been alleged that Sister Bhagya attempted to convert a former Assistant Librarian whose services were terminated subsequently on account of poor performance. It is alleged that the complainant’s husband ailing with mental disorder was promised to be cured by the applicant if they got converted to Christianity and also stated that Christian God is greater than the Hindu God.
The counsel for the applicant submitted that the complaint is false and vexatious and emerges from the complainant’s frustration of being terminated. The applicant submitted a copy of complaint as evidence, which was sent to the SDM stating that the complainant was threatening self-immolation if she was not reinstated to her job. Similarly, an intimation was given to the police station that the school has received information that the complainant is proposing to falsely implicate the applicant by levelling allegations of forced conversion; and two days later this, the FIR was filed.
The court, in consideration of the submissions, granted anticipatory bail to the applicant upon her furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) with one solvent surety in the like amount and ordered the applicant to join the investigation as and when required.
The complete order may be read here:
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