Punjab and Haryana High Court Lifts Parole Restriction for Gurmeet Ram Rahim
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has lifted the previous restriction on granting parole to Dera Sacha Sauda Chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, following a petition by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). The Court ruled that the Haryana government is free to grant parole under the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022, following a review of the case.
In February, the High Court had previously restrained the State from granting parole to Ram Rahim without its permission. However, Friday’s ruling effectively removes this bar. The Court dismissed the SGPC’s argument that the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1988 should have been applied instead of the 2022 Act.
The Court found that the Haryana government had appropriately applied the 2022 Act in granting Ram Rahim’s parole. The division bench, led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal, noted that Ram Rahim’s 40-day parole had ended in March 2023, rendering the SGPC’s challenge moot.
The Court emphasized that it would not assess the merits of Ram Rahim’s past parole periods nor speculate on potential future impacts of his temporary releases. It stated that any future applications for temporary release would be considered strictly according to the provisions of the 2022 Act, ensuring no arbitrariness or favoritism.
Additionally, the Court has ordered the creation of a digital application for managing parole and furlough requests. This system will allow district-level registration of applications and tracking of the grant process to enhance transparency and accountability.
(With inputs from agency)
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