Today, On 18th October, The Supreme Court removed judicial block imposed by the High Court, allowing the trial against Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Ram Rahim, to proceed in sacrilege cases. These cases involve the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, sparking outrage within the Sikh community. The removal of the stay clears the way for Ram Rahim’s prosecution.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today dealt a setback to rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the self-proclaimed godman and leader of Dera Sacha Sauda, by lifting the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on his trial related to the 2015 Bargari sacrilege cases.
The apex court cleared the judicial roadblock that had paused the prosecution of Ram Rahim in three cases of sacrilege, specifically concerning the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikh community.
The bench, consisting of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan, also issued a notice to Ram Rahim, directing him to respond within four weeks.
Ram Rahim, who is already serving a 20-year sentence for rape and has also been convicted of murder, is now facing trial for his alleged involvement in the sacrilege incidents. These incidents, which occurred in the Bargari area of Faridkot district, Punjab, in 2015, led to widespread outrage among Sikhs following the disappearance and alleged desecration of the revered Guru Granth Sahib.
Earlier this year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the proceedings against Ram Rahim in connection with the three sacrilege cases, temporarily stopping any investigations or trials. This decision, made in March, was contested by the Punjab government, which subsequently took the issue to the Supreme Court for review.
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The Bargari sacrilege cases involve a series of incidents in 2015 where torn pages of the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of Sikhism, were found scattered in Bargari, a village in Punjab. These acts of desecration sparked widespread protests and unrest in the state, as they were seen as deeply offensive to the Sikh community.
Ram Rahim, the controversial leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, has been accused of involvement in these sacrilege incidents. His followers allegedly played a role in the desecration of the holy text, leading to multiple cases being filed against him. The cases have been in court for several years, with Ram Rahim already serving prison time for other convictions, including rape and murder.
Recently, the Supreme Court cleared the path for his trial in the Bargari sacrilege cases by removing the stay imposed by the High Court, allowing prosecution to proceed. These cases are highly sensitive due to the religious sentiments involved and have drawn considerable public attention.
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