Madurai bench of Madras HC directs girls in Mose Ministries to be set free
The children were allegedly the target of human trafficking.
Madurai: Taking a different view from an earlier order passed by a division bench of Madras High Court on the status of 89 trafficked children, Justice S. Nagamuthu Wednesday observed that, since 82 inmates have crossed the age of 18, they have right to decide their lives.
The children were allegedly the target of human trafficking and faced abuse later in an unregistered orphanage home called Mose Ministries run by a German pastor couple at Tiruchy.
“The officials of the state have no right to interfere with the freedom of the persons above 18 year of age. And 82 out of 89 inmates of the homes have crossed the age of 18 years they are no more children as defined under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015,” the division bench comprising Justices Nagamuthu and Muralidharan said while directing the Tiruchy district social welfare officer not to interfere in deciding anything against their wishes.
However, the judges allowed the CBI to investigate into the allegation that the trafficking and abuse of the children, who were said to have been sourced from Usilampatti near Madurai, by the pastors since 1994.