Notice to Haryana in Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's furlough case

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 18

Acting on a petition challenging Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s release on furlough, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the State of Haryana. Justice BS Walia of the High Court also fixed February 21 as the next date of hearing in the matter.

The case will now come up for further hearing before Justice Raj Mohan Singh on that date. Among other things, it has been contended before the High Court that Ram Rahim has been released in view of the impending assembly elections in Punjab. “His release at this stage is against the spirit of fair Assembly elections,” it has been added.

In his petition against the State of Haryana and other respondents, Patiala district resident Paramjit Singh Saholi has added that Ram Rahim, who committed “heinous crimes and has been convicted”, ought not to have been granted furlough.

Describing himself as the “Quami president of the Akali Dal Sawtantar”, the petitioner has sought the setting aside/quashing of the order, vide which Ram Rahim, has been ordered to be released on furlough by the Haryana Government, “especially when the Assembly elections in Punjab are scheduled for February 20”. He added that the order of furlough “was unwarranted, illegal, untenable in the eyes of the law, hence deserving to be set aside”.

Unjustified release

There is no justified reason to grant furlough to an individual like Ram Rahim and that too during the election days in Punjab. There is every likelihood the man, who committed ‘heinous crimes and has been convicted’, will foment trouble in Punjab. Paramjit Singh Saholi, Patiala resident

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