Dera moves SC for protection from protestors

The Dera Sacha Sauda on Friday moved a petition before the Supreme Court seeking protection for all the Deras across the country against an alleged ultimatum given by the Akal Takht to vacate them by May 27 and stop their activities.

The petition filed by Abhijit Bhagat, a trustee and vice-chairman of the Dera, was mentioned before a Bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice D K Jain, which posted its hearing for June 4 along with another petition filed on the issue.

A Public Interest Litigation was also filed seeking protection to the lives and properties of both Sikhs and followers of the Sacha Dera Sauda.

The Akal Takht, the highest religious body of the Sikhs, had on May 20 served an ultimatum to the Punjab government to close down all Deras in the state by May 27.

The stand-off between the Deras and the Sikhs was triggered by Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's alleged insult to tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.