CHANDIGARH: The controversial head of Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) Sirsa, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking directions to grant him a 21-day furlough so that he can carry out “welfare activities” outside the jail during this period. The DSS head has submitted that an application for furlough has already been made to the authorities, but due to a stay order dated February 29, this plea has not been considered.
In his application filed before the HC, the Dera Chief has asserted that he is the religious head of the institution where, once every two years in the month of June, a “Sewadar Shradhanjali Bhandara” is organized to pay tribute to regular volunteers who spent their lives in social services and lost their lives in accidents, serious ailments, or otherwise, to pay condolences and to provide every possible help to their grieved families.
“It is apt to point out here that so many welfare activities are to be undertaken by DSS headed by the applicant, i.e., large-scale tree plantation, drug de-addiction, and marriages of poor girls, etc., for which the motivational drive is required to be carried out by the applicant,” his plea has submitted, seeking release on furlough.
He has sought directions to consider and decide the application for furlough in accordance with the law under the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoner (Temporary Release) Act 2022.
It has been argued that the state has already granted parole and furlough to 89 such convicts who have been convicted and sentenced in three or more cases, having life term and fixed term sentences. The HC, in its order dated April 7, 2022, had decided that the Dera Chief is not covered under the definition of a hardcore convicted criminal, as he was not convicted in two murder cases under section 302 of IPC, but rather convicted in two cases under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 302 of IPC, the plea has submitted.
The HC has also been informed that the grant of parole of 70 days and furlough for 21 days every year is a right bestowed upon eligible convicts by the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act 2022.
His plea also stated that he has not misused the concession of parole or furlough in the past and had always surrendered well in time, and no special treatment has been given to him at any stage.
According to the DSS chief, 20 days of parole and 21 days of furlough are already pending for consideration by the appropriate authorities.
The controversial preacher is a convict in rape and murder cases and is currently undergoing imprisonment in Rohtak jail.
On February 29, the HC had directed the state not to entertain the Dera chief’s application for parole without taking permission from the court in the future.
The matter is pending before the HC in the wake of a petition filed by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) objecting to the frequent release of the DSS chief by the Haryana government on parole or furlough despite him being a convict in rape and murder cases.
In his application filed before the HC, the Dera Chief has asserted that he is the religious head of the institution where, once every two years in the month of June, a “Sewadar Shradhanjali Bhandara” is organized to pay tribute to regular volunteers who spent their lives in social services and lost their lives in accidents, serious ailments, or otherwise, to pay condolences and to provide every possible help to their grieved families.
“It is apt to point out here that so many welfare activities are to be undertaken by DSS headed by the applicant, i.e., large-scale tree plantation, drug de-addiction, and marriages of poor girls, etc., for which the motivational drive is required to be carried out by the applicant,” his plea has submitted, seeking release on furlough.
He has sought directions to consider and decide the application for furlough in accordance with the law under the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoner (Temporary Release) Act 2022.
It has been argued that the state has already granted parole and furlough to 89 such convicts who have been convicted and sentenced in three or more cases, having life term and fixed term sentences. The HC, in its order dated April 7, 2022, had decided that the Dera Chief is not covered under the definition of a hardcore convicted criminal, as he was not convicted in two murder cases under section 302 of IPC, but rather convicted in two cases under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 302 of IPC, the plea has submitted.
The HC has also been informed that the grant of parole of 70 days and furlough for 21 days every year is a right bestowed upon eligible convicts by the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act 2022.
His plea also stated that he has not misused the concession of parole or furlough in the past and had always surrendered well in time, and no special treatment has been given to him at any stage.
According to the DSS chief, 20 days of parole and 21 days of furlough are already pending for consideration by the appropriate authorities.
The controversial preacher is a convict in rape and murder cases and is currently undergoing imprisonment in Rohtak jail.
On February 29, the HC had directed the state not to entertain the Dera chief’s application for parole without taking permission from the court in the future.
The matter is pending before the HC in the wake of a petition filed by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) objecting to the frequent release of the DSS chief by the Haryana government on parole or furlough despite him being a convict in rape and murder cases.