The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday emphasized the need for a non-arbitrary and impartial approach in handling the temporary release plea of Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Ram Rahim. The court was addressing a petition by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) that contested the furlough granted to the controversial spiritual leader.
In a significant ruling, the bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal disposed of the SGPC’s petition, which argued that releasing Ram Rahim, who is serving multiple sentences for severe crimes including murder and rape, could threaten national integrity and disturb public order.
The court clarified that Ram Rahim’s plea for a 21-day furlough, filed earlier in June, should be evaluated by the competent authority under the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022. This act, updated from its 1988 precursor, mandates a thorough and unbiased procedure for the conditional release of inmates demonstrating good behavior.
The legal contention presented by the SGPC, advocating for the application of the 1988 act rather than the updated 2022 legislation, was dismissed. The court outlined that the current act was explicitly designed to handle cases of temporary releases such as parole or furlough based on prisoners’ conduct.
Chief Justice Nagu’s bench refrained from speculating about potential public safety risks that might arise from the temporary release of Ram Rahim but stressed that any application for his release must strictly adhere to the legal framework provided by the 2022 act. The decision vests the responsibility of the evaluation with the divisional commissioner of police, ensuring that the process remains free from favoritism, arbitrariness, or discrimination.
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This directive comes after a history of contentious temporary releases for Ram Rahim, who was granted a 50-day parole in January this year. Ram Rahim, head of the Sirsa-based sect, has been incarcerated since 2017 after being convicted for the rape of two disciples and the murder of a journalist, adding a layered complexity to his pleas for temporary relief.
