Gurmeet Ram Rahim Moves Punjab & Haryana High Court Seeking Furlough To Attend Dera Bhandara

Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim has again approached the Punjab & Haryana High Court seeking directions to the State to consider his application for furlough for 21 days in accordance with the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoner (Temporary Release) Act, 2002.

A division bench of Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj and Justice Vikram Aggarwal, deferred the matter today, to after vacation for July 02 while orally observing that the Acting Chief Justice's bench, where the main case is sub judice will hear the plea.

The plea stated that the Dera Chief is eligible for release under the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoner (Temporary Release) Act, 2002 and the only embargo is the order wherein the High Court directed him to surrender on March 10 (day on which his present parole was ending) and asked the Haryana Government to not consider his case for grant of further parole without the permission of the High Court.

The release was also sought in view of an event "Sewadar Shradhanjali Bhandara" organised by the Dera, to pay tribute to regular volunteers who spent their lives in social services and lost their lives.

It has also been submitted that Ram Rahim is not covered under the definition of "hardcore prisoner" under the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022 which bars their release. As per the definition, the prisoner must have been convicted under section 302 IPC in two or more cases. Whereas, Ram Rahim was convicted in two murders i.e. under section 302 of I.P.C. rather than convicted in two cases under Section 120-B read with 302 of IPC, it added.

"Grant of parole for 70 days and furlough for 21 days every calendar year is a right bestowed upon the eligible convict by the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022...rules do not prohibit grant of parole and furlough to any convicts who have been convicted and sentenced in three or more cases having life term and fixed term sentences," the application for furlough stated.

"Out of said period of parole and furlough, 20 days of parole and 21 days of furlough are still pending for consideration by appropriate authorities. It is reiterated that no special treatment has been accorded to (Ram Rahim) at any stage," it added.

The High Court has recently acquitted Ram Rahim Singh in the Ranjit Singh murder case, observing that, the prosecution case was "shrouded in doubts".

Title: Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee v. State of Haryana and others.

The story will be updated.