The Supreme Court on Friday has lifted the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the trial of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, in 3 sacrilege cases dating back to 2015.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan also issued a notice to Ram Rahim, requiring him to respond within four weeks.
The Supreme Court’s decision came during an appeal by the Punjab government against the High Court’s ruling that had halted proceedings involving Ram Rahim in cases related to the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhs.
These cases stem from the theft of a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari, Faridkot district, in 2015. The discovery of torn pages from the sacred text in Bargari sparked widespread protests, leading to violent clashes.
The situation escalated when police opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in the deaths of two individuals in Behbal Kalan, along with numerous injuries in Kotkapura.
In February 2023, the Supreme Court had previously transferred the trial against Ram Rahim and seven Dera Sacha Sauda followers from a Faridkot court to one in Chandigarh. This transfer followed the shooting of a Dera follower who was an accused in the case, raising concerns over safety and the integrity of the trial.
Ram Rahim had approached the High Court in December 2021, seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the three sacrilege FIRs from 2015.
The issue of sacrilege, coupled with the police firing on protesters, became significant electoral topics during the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections, contributing to the defeat of the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance.
Currently, Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year sentence for convictions related to murder and rape. He remains incarcerated at Sunaria jail in Rohtak, although he has been granted paroles and furloughs multiple times.
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling marks a crucial step in the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the sacrilege cases, which have deeply impacted the social and political landscape in Punjab.
As the trial progresses, it will continue to attract significant attention given its historical context and the sensitive nature of the issues involved.
