New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday termed as 'very serious' the charges in the Kottiyoor sex scandal in Kottiyoor in Kannur involving the alleged rape of a minor by a Catholic priest.
The observation of a bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan came on a plea by two doctors and a hospital administrator seeking stay of a criminal trial against them.
The bench posted the matter for further hearing on July 26 and said the orders on stay of trial plea will be passed on that day.
The two doctors and a hospital administrator have been charged under the provisions of the POCSO Act for allegedly covering up the crime, not reporting it to the police after they had come in contact with the minor rape victim and destroying of evidence.
Fr Robin alias Mathew Vadakkumcherry, who was the vicar of the local church in Kottiyoor and the prime accused in the case was arrested on February 28, for sexually exploiting and impregnating the 16-year-old girl. The victim had given birth to a child at their hospital and was under their care.
The three accused Hyder Ali, a paediatrician, Sister Tessy Jose, a gynaecologist and Sister Ancy Mathew of Christraj Hospital had appealed against the decision of the Kerala High Court which had said that a full-fledged trial was required in the case.
Senior advocate R Basant, representing the accused, sought a stay of the trial until their plea was adjudicated.
The Kerala government counsel opposed the plea and pointed out that the biological father of the victim was framed in the case.
He said the accused were influential and powerful people, while father of the victim who belongs to a poor background, was framed up.
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