Preferential Treatment To Ram Rahim Is Against The Law
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2022-02-20 14:49:38
About the Author
When the Haryana government granted a 21-day furlough to two-time rapist and murderer Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh (the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda), it went against judicial norms and due process. It also proved that if one is well-connected, one can get relief even if one is serving time in prison for heinous crimes. Rahim is incarcerated for having raped two of his disciples in 2017 and for murdering two whistleblowers in 2019 and 2021.
Ram Rahim was previously granted two paroles for one day each in 2021 and 2021 to visit his ailing mother. Those were acceptable decisions on compassionate grounds. But the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1968, to which Haryana chief minister M L Khattar referred to in justifying Rahim's current furlough, do not provide for this. It specifically bars prisoners convicted of crimes such as rape and murder form being granted furloughs.
But politicians often offer specious excuses for their administrative actions. They forget that in acting thus, they set a dangerous precedent which other governments can use later to benefit other convicts. Ram Rahim, unfortunately, still has a large following in Punjab and the rest of India. He also counts several top politicians among his disciples. Hence, he was granted furlough just before the elections in the state to perhaps influence his followers to vote for a particular party.
It is sad that the government acted for narrow political considerations to go against the law. It is also sad that the self-styled godman is still an 'influencer' and still has a large enough following that makes politicians dance to his tune. It is also sad that the opposition parties, who are at other times so vocal in denouncing the decisions of BJP governments both at the Centre and the states, have kept mum this time. It proves that no political party likes to mess with a 'godman', even if he is a convicted rapist and murderer.
