New Delhi, Feb 28: The Supreme Court on Friday declined to hear the plea filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) challenging the temporary release of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra was hearing the petition against an order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The bench noted the objection raised by Singh's counsel regarding the maintainability of the PIL before the high court, emphasizing that it was filed against a single individual—Singh himself.
"In that view of the matter, we are not inclined to consider the present petition," the bench stated.
Background and Legal Proceedings
Singh, currently serving a 20-year sentence for raping two disciples, had been granted temporary release multiple times. The SGPC had moved the apex court against the August 2024 order of the high court, which had disposed of the PIL while stating that any application for Singh’s temporary release should be considered by the competent authority without "arbitrariness or favoritism."The SGPC alleged that the Haryana government was misusing its powers under Section 11 of the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022 to repeatedly grant Singh parole and furloughs between 2022 and 2024.
Singh’s counsel argued that the PIL filed in 2023 was specifically targeted at him, suggesting a possible political motivation behind the legal challenge.
Supreme Court’s Observations
The Supreme Court took note of the high court’s position that any application by Singh for temporary release must be considered strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 2022, ensuring there is no discrimination or undue favor.SGPC’s counsel pointed out that despite the high court’s order, Singh was granted parole in January 2024. The apex court, however, advised the petitioners to challenge this development by filing a contempt petition before the high court.
Meanwhile, in a separate legal matter, the Supreme Court had earlier agreed to examine the CBI’s appeal against Singh’s acquittal in the 2002 murder case of Ranjit Singh, a former sect manager. In May 2023, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had acquitted Singh and four others in the case, citing a "tainted and sketchy" investigation.
