Lambasting the Dera Sacha Sauda for going back on its undertaking to maintain law and order after the verdict in a rape case against its chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today made it clear that proceedings for attachment of assets for damage to public property would be initiated against the violators and instigators.
The dera has been asked to submit a list of its assets.
The Full Bench of Acting Chief Justice Surinder Singh Saron, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Jhingan said: “The assets belong to the citizens of the country… Recovery will be made for damage to any property anywhere....”Issuing a stern warning to the dera and followers, the Bench asked Haryana Advocate-General BR Mahajan to tell the civil administration to “assess the damage and bring the statement before us”. The Bench asserted: “Whosoever has been instigating and inciting the crowd that has gathered to commit the acts of arson and violence, would be sternly dealt with. The damages that are caused to public and private properties shall be recovered from them. Dera Sacha Sauda shall submit a list of its assets and properties which can be attached in case it is found that they and their followers are responsible for the acts.”For the first time in recallable past, the Bench would now convene again for a special hearing on Saturday for monitoring the law and order situation in the region following the post-verdict violence. The Bench also asked the Haryana Government to use force to curb lawlessness. “We have no regret if any bad element has died,” the Bench encapsulated its stand in the matter, after a lawyer informed the court about deaths in riots and arson that broke out soon after the verdict. The Bench directed that the police and paramilitary forces would have a free hand. “Those indulging in any kind of violence, arson or breach of peace, etc, shall be video-graphed and an FIR shall be registered,” the Bench added.The Bench also directed the registration of FIRs in case any politician or “anybody else”, including ministers, interfered in the enforcement of law. “In case of failure on part of the police officer to register an FIR, similar action would be called against him,” the Bench added.