No parole to Gurmeet Ram Rahim sans nod: High Court to Haryana

Chandigarh, February 29

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today made it clear that the state of Haryana would not consider Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s case for further parole without its permission. The direction would remain in force till further orders.

The direction came after the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji observed that Ram Rahim was released for 91 days each in 2022 and 2023. Referring to a chart mentioning the details of parole/furlough granted to him, the Bench observed that it made “interesting reading” keeping in view the background and the antecedents of respondent-Ram Rahim, convicted in three cases against him.

“It is also to be noticed that in spite of the pendency of the present petition, in which a notice of motion was issued on January 29, 2023, the state of Haryana has still chosen to grant him indulgence of parole again on July 20, 2023, November 21, 2023, and January 19 for a period of 30, 21 and 50 days,” the Bench observed.

The directions and observations came on a petition filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee challenging the order granting temporary release. The Bench added that it would like the state of Haryana to furnish an affidavit on the grant of the benefit to a number of persons “having such criminal antecedents and sentenced in three cases”.

Directing the filing of a necessary affidavit on the issue before the next date of hearing, the Bench added: “In the meantime, the respondent may surrender on the date fixed — March 10 — and thereafter, the state authorities shall not consider his case for grant of further parole till further orders without the permission of this court. The state of Haryana shall also file the necessary custody certificate to the effect that the said respondent has surrendered on the date fixed”. — TNS

Surrender on March 10

The respondent may surrender on the date fixed — March 10 — and thereafter, the state shall not consider his case for grant of further parole till further orders without the permission of this court. — Bench

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