The Punjab and Haryana High Court Yesterday (May 20th) called for an affidavit from the State of Haryana on number of parole pleas rejected citing the law and order situation, regarding a plea submitted by Dera Sacha Sauda leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
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Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court sought responses from the governments of Haryana and Punjab, along with the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), regarding a plea submitted by Dera Sacha Sauda leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
This plea seeks modification of a February 29 order that directed the Haryana government to refrain from considering his parole application without the court’s permission.
On Monday, a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji addressed the application, which argued that the existing order is prejudicial to Ram Rahim’s rights. According to the application, Ram Rahim is eligible for an additional 20 days of parole and 21 days of furlough this year under the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022.
The application emphasized the reformative purpose of parole and furlough, which aim to help convicts maintain social ties with family and society. It stated that Ram Rahim should be permitted to apply for these temporary releases as per the prescribed rules.
“Thus, in view of the facts and circumstances, the February 29 order needs to be vacated or modified,”
–the plea asserted.
Senior Advocate Chetan Mittal, representing Ram Rahim, argued that the order adversely affects his client’s rights. He pointed out that other similarly placed convicts have been granted parole under the same act. Mittal added,
“The order should be modified, and the State should be allowed to consider his application (for parole).”
The High Court also directed the Haryana government to submit an affidavit detailing how many parole applications have been rejected on the grounds of maintaining law and order.
This directive comes as the court is inundated with petitions challenging these rejections.
“The court is flooded by petitions challenging the same,”
-noted Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia.
The court’s focus on the parole rejection criteria highlights the growing concern over the discretionary power exercised by state authorities in such matters. The bench’s inquiry into the frequency and rationale behind these rejections could potentially lead to a more standardized and transparent parole process.
Ram Rahim’s legal battles have been extensive. Convicted of raping two female disciples in 2017, he received a 20-year prison sentence. He was also sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019 for the murder of a journalist and again in 2021 for the murder of a Dera follower.
Despite these convictions, he has been granted temporary releases multiple times since his incarceration began on August 25, 2017. His latest release occurred on January 19, allowing him 50 days outside prison.
The February 29 order came after a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by the SGPC in January 2023. The PIL challenged the frequent paroles granted to Ram Rahim by the Haryana government, prompting the court to impose a stay on further parole considerations without judicial approval.
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the parole system in Haryana, particularly for high-profile convicts. If the court finds the current practices discriminatory or inconsistent, it may lead to reforms ensuring a more equitable approach to parole applications.
As the court awaits the affidavit from the Haryana government, all eyes will be on how this information shapes the ongoing debate over parole policies and the balance between maintaining law and order and upholding prisoners’ rights.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Gurmeet Ram Rahim
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