Ram Rahim's 16th Parole: Key Change In Haryana Law In 2022 That Keeps Dera Chief Out Of Jail

Last Updated:May 27, 2026, 10:48 IST

This is Gurmeet Ram Rahim's sixteenth temporary release from jail since 2020.

Convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of Rohtak’s Sunaria jail once again this week after being granted a 30-day parole by the Haryana government – his 16th temporary release since 2020.

The latest parole has once again revived a debate that refuses to die down in Haryana and Punjab: how has a convict serving a 20-year sentence for rape – and who was also convicted in murder cases before later acquittals by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in some matters – managed to spend hundreds of days outside prison in less than a decade?

The answer lies in a significant legal shift made by the Haryana government in 2022.

The 2022 Law That Changed The Equation

In 2022, Haryana enacted the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act. The law replaced older parole provisions and created a clearer framework for temporary releases, including parole and furlough.

Under the law, eligible prisoners can avail up to 10 weeks of parole in a calendar year, usually in parts. The new law also allows additional furlough of up to three weeks separately. It also grants temporary release on grounds including family needs, social reintegration and “good conduct". Importantly, the law also widened the scope for prisoners classified as “hardcore prisoners" to seek temporary release after serving a portion of their sentence.

That legal opening has become central to the repeated releases of Ram Rahim.

According to recent reports, with this latest 30-day parole, Ram Rahim has already exhausted the 10-week parole limit allowed for 2026 under the Haryana law.

400+ Days Outside Jail

The numbers surrounding Ram Rahim’s paroles have intensified public scrutiny.

Since his conviction in August 2017, the Dera chief has reportedly spent more than 400 days outside prison through paroles and furloughs. His releases have ranged from a few hours to 50-day paroles.

Initially, temporary releases were granted for reasons such as meeting his ailing mother. But after 2022, the frequency and duration of paroles visibly increased.

The timeline itself is shocking:

• One-day parole in 2020
• 12-hour parole in 2021
• 21-day furlough in 2022
• Multiple 30-day and 40-day paroles after the 2022 law came into force
• Several releases in 2023, 2024, 2025 and now 2026

Critics argue that what was designed as a reformative prison provision is now appearing, in Ram Rahim’s case, like a recurring semi-freedom arrangement.

Why The Timing Draws Political Attention

The controversy is not just about the number of paroles, but also their timing.

Opposition parties and Sikh organisations have repeatedly alleged that several of Ram Rahim’s releases have coincided with elections in Haryana, Punjab or nearby regions where the Dera Sacha Sauda has a considerable follower base. Governments in power have consistently denied any political considerations behind the decisions.

Yet, the pattern has kept the issue politically explosive.

The repeated paroles have also faced judicial scrutiny. In earlier proceedings, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had questioned the frequency of the paroles and observed that such releases should not happen mechanically. However, courts have not imposed a blanket ban on future paroles, leaving the final discretion largely with the Haryana government and prison authorities, provided legal conditions are met.

That is precisely why the 2022 law matters so much. It created a legal framework broad enough to repeatedly accommodate temporary releases – as long as the state government certifies eligibility and good conduct.

Parole and furlough are not extraordinary concepts in India’s prison system. They are intended to help prisoners maintain social ties, reduce psychological stress and eventually reintegrate into society. But Ram Rahim’s case has turned that legal principle into a public controversy.

For supporters of prison reform, denying parole solely because a convict is unpopular could undermine the broader reformative philosophy of criminal justice. For critics, however, the issue is one of unequal access – whether an ordinary convict serving a rape sentence would realistically receive 16 releases in six years.

News explainers Ram Rahim's 16th Parole: Key Change In Haryana Law In 2022 That Keeps Dera Chief Out Of Jail

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