Supreme Court ruling clears path for Gurmeet Ram Rahim's trial in sacrilege cases

PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court of India has made a pivotal decision regarding the legal proceedings against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda. On Friday, the court lifted the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the trial concerning three sacrilege cases that have been pending since 2015. A bench consisting of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan also issued a notice to Ram Rahim, mandating that he respond within four weeks.

This ruling comes as a response to an appeal filed by the Punjab government, which contested the High Court's previous decision to halt proceedings against Ram Rahim in these significant sacrilege cases. The allegations primarily revolve around the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikh community.

The Ram Rahim sacrilege cases stem from a series of incidents in 2015, notably the theft of a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari, located in the Faridkot district. Following the theft, torn pages of the sacred text were discovered, igniting widespread protests in Faridkot. The protests escalated into violence, leading to police firing that resulted in the deaths of two individuals in Behbal Kalan, along with several others injured during the unrest in Kotkapura.

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In a related development, in February 2023, the Supreme Court had transferred the trial against Gurmeet Ram Rahim and seven of his Dera Sacha Sauda associates from a Faridkot court to Chandigarh. This transfer was prompted by the assassination of a Dera follower, who was also an accused in the ongoing case, raising concerns about the safety and integrity of the trial proceedings.

Earlier, in December 2021, Ram Rahim had sought intervention from the High Court, requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the three FIRs related to the sacrilege incidents of 2015. This request highlighted his ongoing attempts to challenge the legitimacy of the proceedings against him.

The Supreme Court's decision marks a significant step forward in the Ram Rahim case, reinstating the importance of accountability in matters involving religious sentiments and public unrest. The outcome of this trial will be closely monitored, as it carries implications not only for Ram Rahim but also for the wider community affected by the incidents surrounding the sacrilege allegations. As developments unfold, this case continues to generate significant interest and concern in both legal and social contexts, making it a pivotal topic in the ongoing Ram Rahim news cycle.

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