Supreme Court Petition Delays 2015 Sacrilege Trials in Punjab
Dera head’s pending plea in SC stalls 2015 sacrilege trials
Image: The Times Of India
The trials related to three sacrilege cases from 2015 in Punjab remain stalled due to a pending Supreme Court petition by Gurmeet Ram Rahim, head of Dera Sacha Sauda. The petition challenges the Punjab government's withdrawal of the investigation from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), delaying court proceedings until further orders.
- 01The Punjab government has enacted the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act to impose stricter penalties for sacrilege of the Sikh holy scripture.
- 02The Supreme Court has stayed trial court proceedings in Chandigarh until further notice, leading to multiple adjournments.
- 03The cases were initially transferred from Faridkot to Chandigarh in 2023 following Supreme Court directives.
- 04The related Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura police firing cases were also moved to Chandigarh in subsequent years.
- 05Gurmeet Ram Rahim's petition argues that the state cannot reclaim jurisdiction once a case is handed to a central agency.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
In Punjab, the trials concerning three sacrilege cases from 2015 are currently stalled due to a pending petition in the Supreme Court filed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda. This petition challenges the Punjab government's decision to withdraw the investigation from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Supreme Court's last order on April 29, 2025, mandated that all proceedings in the trial court in Chandigarh remain stayed until further notice. Consequently, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court adjourned the hearing to September 24, 2025. The cases were transferred from Faridkot to Chandigarh in 2023 as per Supreme Court directives, and related police firing cases were also moved to Chandigarh in May 2024 and April 2026. Additionally, the Punjab government had initially transferred the cases to the CBI on November 3, 2015, but later issued a notification on September 6, 2018, withdrawing its consent for the CBI investigation. Ram Rahim's legal argument posits that the state cannot reclaim jurisdiction once a case is handed over to a central agency, adding further complexity to the ongoing legal proceedings.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The ongoing delays in the trials may affect public trust in the judicial system and the government's ability to address issues of sacrilege and community sentiments in Punjab.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you believe the judicial system is effectively addressing sacrilege cases in Punjab?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.