(Rptg, correcting date in line one, para one)

New Delhi, May 25 (UNI) The Supreme Court today advanced to May 28 the hearing of a petition seeking protection to the properties of the Dera Sacha Sauda and its followers all across the country in view of an ultimatum issued by the Akal Takht.

A Vacation Bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and D K Jain, which had earlier fixed the hearing for June 4, passed the present order subsequently when it was told that the ultimatum given by the Akal Takht for the closure of the Dera Sacha and its units would expire on May 27 and the petition should be heard at least on the same day.

The petition was filed by Abhijeet Bhagat, Trustee Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa (Haryana), Mr Gurdas Singh of Ganga Nagar (Rajasthan) and Ompir Singh of Meerut (UP).

It was contended in the petition that since the Punjab government had turned a blind eye to the May 27 ultimatum, the petitioners were forced to approach the apex court seeking protection of their fundamental rights under article 21 of the Constitution.

The petition said there were 160 branches of Deras spread over 13 states, having a following of about 3 crore people.

Besides the Union government, 13 states including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan have been arrayed as respondents in the petition.

Earlier, Justice Pasayat had observed that such issues should be resolved politically at the government level.

UNI