The High court of Kerala has declined the petition for an out-of-court settlement in a case, where a 10-year-old schoolboy was allegedly sexually abused by a 45-year-old monk.
The alleged incident took place in 2014 in the boys hostel of a school run by Ramakrishna Mission in Puranattukara in Thrissur, when the monk was working at Sree Ramakrishna Gurukula Vidyamandir HSS.
The High Court single bench was considering the petition filed by Swami Vasupradananda, who is now at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya in Coimbatore.
The monk had produced an affidavit signed by some students and the victim’s grandmother agreeing for an out-of-court settlement.
He also argued in the court that the case was fabricated by a few senior students of the school who were not happy with the monk’s strict disciplinary actions.
The Peramangalam police charged a case against the monk based on a complaint filed by the victim’s grandmother.
While denying the plea, the court said, “The allegations raised are serious and a minor child is involved. By no stretch of imagination can it be held to be an offence as between the private parties simplicitor. Offence of this nature will have a serious impact on the society at large and any settlement... cannot be given the imprimatur (approval) of this court,“ quotes The Times of India.