HC calls for production of records from the trial court in the Michaelpatti student death case

The Madras High Court bench on Monday called for production of records from the trial court in the Michaelpatti schoolgirl death case. Sister Sagaya Mary, accused of abetting the suicide of a student of a missionary-run Christian school in Thanjavur district, has sought to quash the charge sheet filed against her by the CBI.

Justice G. Ilangovan consulted the records and adjourned the hearing of the case. Earlier in 2022, the High Court had ordered the CBI to initiate an investigation into the girl’s suicide. Her parents alleged that she was forced to do housework at the shelter and asked to convert to Christianity.

The CBI ruled out the religious conversion aspect and told the court that the girl took the extreme decision because she was asked to perform some administrative tasks and not because she was asked to convert to Christianity.

The petitioner, Sister Sagaya Mary, alleged that the accusation was based on the girl being forced to do household chores at the shelter. It was said that the student could not concentrate on her studies, which caused mental stress. The case was baseless and wrongly framed, and she was falsely implicated. The petitioner stated that no prima facie evidence was brought against her.

The CBI submitted its final report before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Tiruchi, on May 8, 2024. The petitioner is the sole accused and has been charged with offenses under the Indian Penal Code and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The case was transferred to the Principal District and Sessions Court, Tiruchi, and then transferred to the Mahila Court, Tiruchi.

(Help in overcoming suicidal thoughts can be obtained from the National Health Helpline on 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, Sneha Suicide Prevention Hotline on 044-24640050 and Speak2Us Hotline on 9375493754.)