Thread by @lawbarandbench

Punjab & Haryana High Court to continue hearing plea seeking transfer of the murder trial against former Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh from CBI court, Panchkula to any other CBI court in Haryana, Punjab, or Chandigarh

#PunjabHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim #MurderTrial

Previously, Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan recused from hearing the case. Justice Avneesh Jhingan will hear the matter further.

#PunjabHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim

barandbench.com/news/litigatio…

Justice Avneesh Jhingan: Yes please. What is the dispute?

Senior Advocate RS Bains: This is a transfer Petition.

#PunjabHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim

Court: What is your stand? Now, case is just fixed for judgement. One of the issues is, even supposing, we say don’t transfer. One of the principles is that, justice should not just be done. It should be appeared to be done.

#PunjabHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim

Court: Rather than these grounds coming up in appeal, isn’t it better than this be taken up in another court?
Whatever these apprehensions, these will be in appeal proceedings also one way or another.

#PunjabHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim

Court: I am saying, if we all agree to this- I will say that I am making no comments.

Senior Advocate Vinod Ghai: I am only saying that will my Lord allow someone to cast such aspersions against judicial officers?

#PunjabHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim

Ghai: They keep mum during the entire proceedings, and right before the verdict they come with this. I am neither in favour nor against transfer. All I am saying is, can someone be allowed to take the Court for a ride?

Judgement was to be pronounced on 25 they come here on 23.

Court: So, you are opposing my proposal? Okay, then I will keep it for final arguments.

Advocate Sumeet Goel: This is one of the oldest trials in the State of Haryana so I request that you hear the matter today or Monday.

#PunjabandHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim

Senior Advocate Venkataramani: In a matter like this, the presiding officer has been put under a razor’s edge.

#PunjabandHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim

Justice Jhingan: Now I can share with you what I have not said earlier.
Why I suggested earlier, what I was feeling putting myself in that chair was that after all these allegations, it would not be fair for the #Judge to pronounce it. now there would be an additional pressure.

Venkataramani: That is one way of looking at it but somebody who makes a petition like this walk Scott free?

#PunjabandHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim

Court: See I am having some soft corner for my judicial officers. (everyone laughs)

#PunjabandHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim

Advocate Goel: My very short prayer is that if Lordship cannot hear it today for whatever reason, you may take it up on Monday.

#PunjabandHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim

Court: I don't chew words. I got the file late and I have not gone through the entire file. So we can keep it for Next Friday.. If it suits everybody. Because Monday is heavier and this case will take sometime.

#PunjabandHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim

Ghai: My Lord, this is a case where there is no whisper of any allegations against the any of the accused.

Court: I have read, the allegations- they have spared none. Somebody was sitting there, therefore, he has influenced. That is their right.

#PunjabandHaryana

Court: We keep it for 1st of October.

Goel: My Lords may consider an earlier date.

Court, explains: Its so old, 15 days more. give me all complations, everything. Why I am saying is I was fixing for 24, but they told me I've already kept some matters.

#PunjabandHaryana

Justice Jhingan: There are so many intellectuals before me, I have my work cut out. I am trying to keep it on a day when I don't have any...

(To court staff): Put this on 1 October. No other case that day.

#PunjabandHaryana #GurmeetRamRahim