Punjab CM Approves Prosecution of Gurmeet Ram Rahim
Background on the Sacrilege Cases
In 2015, several incidents of sacrilege were reported in Bargari, a village in the Faridkot district of Punjab. The holy scripture of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, was allegedly desecrated and parts of it were found scattered. This led to the filing of cases under sections 295 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code at the Bajakhana Police Station.
Legal Proceedings
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, was implicated in these cases. In December 2021, he approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, requesting a CBI investigation into the three sacrilege FIRs. The High Court then stayed the proceedings against him.
Recent Developments
On October 22, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann granted permission for the prosecution of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, following the Supreme Court’s decision to lift the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan issued a notice to Ram Rahim on the appeal filed by the Punjab government against the High Court’s stay on the trial.
Current Status
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is currently serving a 20-year sentence for rape and has also been convicted of murder. The prosecution in the sacrilege cases is set to proceed following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling.
Doubts Revealed
Punjab CM -: Punjab CM stands for Punjab Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the government in the Indian state of Punjab. Currently, Bhagwant Mann is the Chief Minister.
Bhagwant Mann -: Bhagwant Mann is a politician in India and the current Chief Minister of Punjab. He is a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Prosecution -: Prosecution means taking legal action against someone in a court of law. It involves trying to prove that the person has committed a crime.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim -: Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is the leader of a religious group called Dera Sacha Sauda. He is currently in jail for crimes like rape and murder.
2015 Sacrilege Cases -: The 2015 sacrilege cases refer to incidents where the holy book of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib, was disrespected or desecrated. These incidents happened in Punjab, causing a lot of anger and protests.
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions on legal matters and can overrule decisions made by lower courts.
Punjab and Haryana High Court -: The Punjab and Haryana High Court is a court that deals with legal cases in the states of Punjab and Haryana. It is one level below the Supreme Court.
Desecration -: Desecration means showing disrespect to something sacred or holy. In this context, it refers to disrespecting the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs.
Guru Granth Sahib -: The Guru Granth Sahib is the holy scripture of Sikhism. It is considered the eternal Guru by Sikhs and is treated with great respect.
Bargari, Faridkot district -: Bargari is a village in the Faridkot district of Punjab, India. It is known for being the location of the 2015 sacrilege incidents.
CBI probe -: CBI probe refers to an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is a top agency in India that investigates serious crimes.