"I am a nun fighting for justice, do not throw me to the mercy of the streets:" Sister Lucy Kalappura argues her own case at Kerala High Court

The first nun to argue her own case before a court in India, Sister Lucy Kalappura appeared before the Kerala High Court today challenging her eviction from the Franciscan Clarist Convent in Karakkamala (Sr Lucy Kalappura v. State of Kerala)..Despite Sister Lucy's repeated requests that she be allowed to continue residing at the convent, the Court declined the same, stating that police protection can only be granted if she vacates the convent..Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V reserved orders in the matter, remarking,"You have made serious allegations regarding the Vicar and Mother Superior in your petition. You have stated yourself that you have been subject to mistreatment at the convent. If you continue to stay there, such incidents will only appreciate and the Court cannot guarantee you protection if you live there. It is for your own benefit and safety that I'm saying that the Court can grant you police protection if you move out to somewhere safer.".Sister Lucy had been evicted from the convent after she levelled allegations of immorality against the Vicar and the Mother Superior of the Church..At an earlier hearing of the case, the Convent had submitted a decretum issued by the Supremum Tribunal Signaturae Apostolicae (the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church) and argued that the right of the petitioner to continue as a member of the congregation has come to an end. Henceforth, the petitioner no longer has the right and duty to wear the religious habit of the convent, it was stated..Today, Sister Lucy pleaded with the Court, stating, "I am a nun, a woman fighting for justice. I used to be a teacher at a Catholic school. It is important for my nunship and my faith that I continue to reside at the Convent. Please do not throw me to the mercy of the streets as many nuns have been forced to in the past. I have nowhere else to go.".The Court reiterated that it cannot grant her police protection if she continues to reside at the convent. Sister Lucy responded that the Court may, if it wishes, decline to grant her police protection. However, she pleaded that she be allowed to return to the convent. Further, she stated that a civil suit is pending before the Munsif Court at Mananthavady demanding a stay on the decision of the congregation to oust her from the convent. She argued that she may be allowed to reside at the convent at least until the disposal of that suit. .Justice Vijayaraghavan stated that the Court could not look into her right to reside at the convent, as the instant case is filed for seeking police protection only..Thereafter, the Court reserved its order in the matter.