Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Seeks 21-Day Furlough: Court to Decide

Dera Sacha Sauda chief and rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has petitioned the Punjab and Haryana High Court for a 21-day furlough. The court had previously instructed the Haryana government not to grant parole without its authorization. Singh cites Haryana Good Conduct Prisoner Act to support his request.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Dera Sacha Sauda chief and rape convict, has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking a 21-day furlough. His plea arrives amidst a standing February court order that had previously halted his parole.

The high court had instructed the Haryana government to seek its permission before granting any future paroles to Singh. This order was made while hearing a petition from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee challenging Singh's temporary release.

Singh, serving a 20-year sentence for raping two disciples in Sunaria jail, Rohtak, seeks the furlough under the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoner (Temporary Release) Act 2022. Granted a 50-day parole on January 19, Singh argues his furlough will support welfare activities carried out by his sect.