Munsif court directed to take decision on Sr Lucy's staying in FCC convent

Kochi: The Kerala High Court directed the Munsif court to take a decision immediately on a plea by Sister Lucy Kalappura who sought court orders to continue her staying at the Franciscan Clarist Congregation from where she was expelled for alleged violations of its rules.

Sister Lucy approached the Kerala HC while her case is being heard in a civil court, pointing out threats she is getting and wanted she should be allowed to stay in the convent as she has no place to go.

The court said that since the matter is still in the civil court in Wayanad, it would not be proper for it to enter into the finding on the rights of the people residing in the convent, as requested by the petitioner. It would be appropriate for the Munsif court to hear the application and take a decision expeditiously, the High Court said.

Based on the nun's complaint that she was facing a threat from known and unknown persons, Justice Raja Viajayaraghavan observed that her apprehension appears genuine and directed that CCTV visuals in and around the convent where she is currently staying be preserved and protected. The HC also directed police to investigate, assert the truthfulness, and accord protection to her if she approaches them with complaints of threat while she is residing elsewhere other than the convent in Karackamala. The nun, who argued her case in person, had told the court that she has challenged the order of eviction against her before a civil court and till that is decided she wishes to continue staying at the convent.

She said that the court may withdraw the police protection granted to her, but she should be allowed to stay at the convent as she has no other place to go. Sister Lucy had said while she had the police protection she had the confidence to venture out and whenever there was any conflict with the convent authorities like the kitchen or dining area is closed for her, police came to her aid. The court had said the only plea before it was for police protection and it was willing to grant the same as long as she is not staying at the convent. During the brief hearing, the convent had alleged that there is a discipline to be followed in a nunnery and the sister was not following the same. It had further claimed that she returned to the convent at varying hours in the night, which was not permissible.

In June, the Vatican had rejected Sister Lucy's third appeal against the decision of FCC to expel her for "failing" to explain her lifestyle, which allegedly violated church rules. The nun, who took part in a protest by nuns belonging to Missionaries of Jesus Congregation seeking the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun, was expelled by the FCC under the Roman Catholic Church in August 2019.

The congregation, in its notice, had termed as "grave violations" Sister Lucy possessing a driving license, buying a car, taking a loan for it and publishing a book, and spending money without the permission and knowledge of her superiors and the Vatican had ratified the decision. The nun, however, had denied the charges levelled against her by the congregation, saying many of them were a "deliberate attempt to paint her in a bad light."