In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court has lifted the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the trial of jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, in connection with three sacrilege cases from 2015. The cases pertain to the alleged desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of the Sikh faith, in the Faridkot district of Punjab.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan heard the Punjab government’s appeal against the High Court’s stay. It issued notice to Ram Rahim, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for rape and has also been convicted for murder.
Background of the Sacrilege Cases
The sacrilege incidents took place in Bargari, a village in Faridkot district, where torn pages of the Guru Granth Sahib were discovered scattered on October 12, 2015. FIRs were registered under sections 295 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code at Bajakhana Police Station.
In March 2023, the Punjab and Haryana High Court halted proceedings in the three cases after Ram Rahim filed a petition requesting a CBI probe. The Punjab government has been pushing for the resumption of the trials, seeking justice for the sacrilege incidents that led to widespread protests in the region.
Ram Rahim has been embroiled in numerous legal battles, adding to his existing convictions for serious crimes.