HC refuses to interfere with Ram Rahim’s furlough order
Has made it clear that Sirsa dera chief does not fall in category of ‘hardcore prisoners’ for the purpose of his release on furlough WITH SIRSA DERA HEAD ALREADY BACK IN JAIL, LAWYERS SAID THE HIGH COURT DISPOSED OF THE PLEA AS INFRUCTUOUS
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday refused to interfere with the Haryana government’s decision of granting 20-day furlough to Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim in February 2022.
The high court has made it clear that Ram Rahim did not fall in the category of “hardcore prisoners” for the purpose of his release on parole/furlough.
Multiple lawyers associated with the case confirmed the development. However, an official order is yet to be released by the high court. The state was represented by advocate general Baldev Raj Mahajan while senior advocate Vinod Ghai had appeared for the Dera chief.
Lawyers said the high court disposed of the plea as infructuous as Dera chief has already returned back to jail. But some directions have been issued, details of which will be available in the detailed order, the lawyers said.
The furlough granted just ahead of the assembly polls in Punjab was challenged by one Paramjit Singh Saholi, of Patiala, arguing that Ram Rahim was released in view of the assembly elections in Punjab. “He committed heinous crimes and has been convicted.
He ought not to have been granted furlough,” it was argued.
The government had told court that Ram Rahim did not fall in the category of “hardcore prisoners” as he was convicted for offences of criminal conspiracy. In case Ram Rahim was considered “hardcore prisoner” even then, he was entitled to temporary release as he had undergone more than five years’ sentence as a convict in jail, the state had told court.
Ram Rahim is lodged in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail following his conviction in two rape and two murder cases, all dating back to 2002.
He is in jail since August 2017, when he was first convicted for rapes of two female disciples in 2002 on Sirsa Dera premises. He was granted 20-day furlough on February 7, 2022.