ORDER

Dated this the 7th day of July 2020 A Bishop is a senior member of the Christian Clergy in charge of a Diocese. He is placed on a high pedestal and hold high esteem in the society as a whole.

2. A Nun is a member of a religious community of women living under the vows of chastity, obedience, loyalty etc. They devote their entire life doing services to the community as well to the society thereby dedicating themselves to the Divine Master.

3. Here, the petitioner is the accused in Crime No.

746 of 2018 of Kuravilangad Police Station registered for the offences punishable under Sections 342, 376 (2)(k), 376(2)(n), 376 C(a), 377 and 506(ii) of the Indian Penal Code . The victim (hereinafter referred to as 'the Sister') has put the Bishop (hereinafter referred to as 'the petitioner') in the dock of the court alleging that he has committed the most heinous and brutal offence of rape on her.

4. The allegations raised against this petitioner by the prosecution in brief are as follows:

The petitioner is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar who is residing in Bishop House, Jalandhar city, Punjab State. The Sister is the Mother Superior of St. Francis Mission Home at Kurav