NEW DELHI: The court had reserved its order in the case last week. As an interim measure, it has asked the police not to arrest the duo until its final order and slated the further hearing for August 6.
During the hearing, the bench wondered over the sudden rise in the number of rape cases involving church priests. The observation was made as it heard two cases simultaneously involving church priests. The first case which the court was hearing was pertaining to the involvement of Fr Thomas Joseph Therakam, who has moved the court for quashing of charges against him in a rape case.
Fr Joseph has to face trial for allegedly trying to help Kottiyoor priest Robin Vadakkumchery in hushing up a rape case against the latter, in which a minor girl was raped who subsequently gave birth to a baby.
Apart from Joseph, who was removed as the Wayanad Child Welfare Committee chairman last year, five nuns and two doctors were also accused in the case. Fr Joseph had requested for a stay on the trial, but the bench refused the same and fixed the hearing for August 1.
The second case was of four clergymen attached to the Malankara Orthodox Church in Kerala involved in a rape case involving a 34-year old married woman, two priests have moved the SC seeking anticipatory bail.