Haryana's 2022 Law: Ram Rahim Gets Repeated Parole Despite 'Hardcore Criminal' Status

• Haryana's 2022 law facilitates repeated paroles for Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who has accumulated 406 days of release since 2017.
• The law allows regular parole for 'hardcore convicted prisoners' (convicted of rape/murder) after 5 years, a criterion Ram Rahim meets despite his 2017 rape and 2019/2021 murder convictions.
• Haryana government argued in court that Ram Rahim is not a 'hardcore criminal' as his murder convictions were for conspiracy, not physical acts, despite the law's definition.
• Ram Rahim has received 15 paroles, totaling 406 days, with no state security or public peace concerns raised by the Haryana government, despite his serious convictions.
• Timing of paroles often coincides with elections in Haryana and Punjab, raising suspicions of political motivation due to his perceived vote bank influence.

Why It Matters: Haryana's 2022 law and its interpretation have enabled repeated paroles for Ram Rahim, sparking political and legal debate.