Court Dismisses Trafficking Allegations Against Nuns and Jharkhand Trio

A Kerala court dismissed trafficking charges against two nuns and three others accused of bringing three underage girls from Jharkhand for domestic work. The court found no evidence of coercion or exploitation, determining the girls traveled voluntarily in search of better opportunities, with informed consent from their parents.

A court in Kerala exonerated two nuns and three Jharkhand natives in a 2022 trafficking case involving three underage girls. The court found no evidence of coercion, ruling the girls traveled voluntarily for domestic work.

The ruling by the Court of I Additional Sessions Judge of Thrissur emphasized that prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case under the human trafficking law. It was noted that there were no allegations of threats, deception, or exploitation.

The girls, who were intercepted at Thrissur railway station, traveled with parental consent, seeking better opportunities. The court discharged all five accused, citing insufficient evidence of forced labour or exploitation.

(With inputs from agencies.)