Courts run by judges, not babas, asserts HC bench

Observing that even Lord Krishna had to remain behind bars for some time, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday issued notice to the Haryana government to file its reply by November 17 in a case related to Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Observing that even Lord Krishna had to remain behind bars for some time, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday issued notice to the Haryana government to file its reply by November 17 in a case related to Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

The bench of justice K Kannan was hearing a fresh petition by Hans Raj Chauhan, who submitted on Thursday that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s gaining power in Haryana as well as the Centre had put the impartiality of the investigation against the Dera chief in doubt. Before the elections in Haryana, the dera head had announced support to the BJP.

The petitioner submitted that the Dera chief was now a powerful man with more than 45-lakh followers and he could influence the trial. When the court ordered the next hearing on November 17, the state counsel Roopak Bansal sought more time for the reply.

“What do they think of themselves? Demigods? Even Lord Krishna had to spend some time behind bars. The courts are run by judges, not babas...,” justice Kannan commented on the prevailing situation and gave the state no time relaxation.

The matter related to non-bailable warrants against another baba, Rampal, in a contempt of court case is also scheduled for November 17, though before a different bench of the high court. Former Dera Sacha Sauda follower Chauhan had moved the high court in 2012, alleging that he had been castrated along with 400 other followers. He had called for handing over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In October, justice Kannan had sought all records pertaining to the murder and rape charges against Ram Rahim by November 17 and on Thursday directed the counsels to study the report of the Panchkula sessions judge by that day.