The Bilaspur High Court has granted anticipatory bail to Sister Bincy Joseph, principal of Holy Cross Nursing College, who faced allegations of attempting to forcibly convert a Hindu nursing student to Christianity. The court order, issued on April 24, shields the Catholic nun from immediate arrest while police continue their investigation.
“We are relieved and happy,” said Abhinandan Xalxo, president of the Jashpur Catholic Sabha, who has been assisting Sister Bincy with her legal defense.
The case originated from an April 6 complaint filed by a final-year nursing student who alleged that Sister Bincy pressured her to convert to Christianity and subsequently barred her from examinations when she refused. The complaint was directed to both the district collector and the Superintendent of Police in Jashpur district.
Sister Bincy has firmly denied these accusations, calling them “a calculated attempt to defame the institution and cover up her own academic shortcomings.” College records indicate the student attended only 32 percent of required practical sessions, significantly below the mandatory 80 percent attendance threshold established by the state nursing council.
According to Sister Bincy, the student “submitted a declaration letter on January 15, 2025, promising to complete pending assignments, which she failed to do despite reminders.” Parents had reportedly been informed about these academic deficiencies before the complaint was filed.
The nun had initially sought protection from arrest at the district court level, which rejected her pre-arrest bail application on April 11, forcing her to approach the state’s highest court for relief.
The allegations triggered protests from local Hindu groups demanding action against the nun and revocation of the nursing college’s government approvals. In response, the college administration has filed a counter-complaint alleging that the student threatened college authorities. Father Shyju Thomas, counsel for the administration, confirmed that legal action was being pursued.
Bishop Emmanuel Kerketta of Jashpur Diocese has called the conversion allegations “fabricated and baseless, just harassment,” adding that their “institutions serve the community at large, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, or language without discrimination.”
The case emerges amid growing tensions in Chhattisgarh, where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government has proposed amendments to strengthen the state’s anti-conversion law. According to Home Minister Vijay Sharma, 27 cases related to illegal conversion have been registered in the state over the past six years, with four cases recorded in 2025 alone.
As investigations continue, Sister Bincy faces charges under provisions of the state’s anti-conversion law and other non-bailable sections of India’s criminal code, with the high court’s intervention providing temporary relief as the case proceeds.
