Gurmeet Ram Rahim was sentenced by the CBI Special Court in 2017. (File)
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has decided not to close the petition filed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the violence in Panchkula in 2017 for being convicted in the sexual abuse case of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim of Sirsa. On Friday, Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj
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The bench said that the agencies had informed the government before violence. 32 people died. Who was responsible for this, it will be investigated. It will also be seen that the Haryana government had failed to stop the violence or the government had a role in gathering a crowd of supporters.
On 25 August 2017, his supporters gathered in Panchkula after a decision on Ram Rahim. They were also accused of bringing weapons. 32 people died in the violence and assets worth Rs 118 crore were damaged.
On 25 August 2017, vehicles were also arson in Panchkula. (File)
2 things on today’s hearing of Advocate Gupta …
- Important questions raised in the High Court on Panchkula violence: Advocate Anupam Gupta said that during the hearing in the High Court, the question arises as to which circumstances a public interest litigation (PIL) can be filed in matters related to law and order, while this responsibility is usually of the police and administration.
- Debate on compensation for loss in violence: Gupta further said that there was a debate in the court as to which scope will be compensated for the damage caused by violence and under Article 226, what order can the court pass for it. Another major question was whether the culprits can be compensated for the loss of public and private property, problems of common people and expenditure on deployment of security forces.
3 big charges against Haryana government in petition …
- Complication with Dera supporters: Amicus Curie Senior Advocate Anupam Gupta said that Ravindra Dhul has alleged in the petition that the government connivated the Dera supporters and failed to maintain law and order under political pressure. Intelligence agencies had already warned, but despite that the police and administration did not take any concrete steps.
- Did not deliberately impose curfew: The petition also said that the government did not deliberately implement curfew, causing the situation to deteriorate and violence. The administration insisted on saving the Dera chief and his supporters in place of safety of citizens. Even the authorities supported the Dera supporters to protect them from legal action.
- Priority to political gains: According to the petition, the state government dismissed its constitutional responsibility and gave priority to political gains rather than safety of the public. The administration promoted Ram Rahim’s illegal activities and tried to avoid the responsibility of violence.
Punjab government bid- 169 spent to stop violence The High Court had sought a reply from the affidavit from the Punjab government on whether they have sought compensation from any other institution for this expense? On this, Additional Advocate General Chanchal Singla of the Punjab government said that Punjab spent Rs 169 crore in stopping violence and security, of which 50 crores were imposed only on the deployment of CRPF. Therefore, this matter is not covered in special laws of Punjab and the High Court should make an independent tribunal.
Order not to withdraw FIR On 29 August 2017, the High Court ordered that the investigation of cases registered in Punjab and Haryana would SIT and the two governments would not withdraw any FIR without the court’s permission. In the last hearing (April 2025), the court had said that no longer the dates will be given and first it should be decided that the questions that were raised in 2017 are still necessary or have ended over time.