Punjab seeks 10 days for replying to Amritpal’s plea challenging refusal to attend Parliament

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday heard a petition filed by Khadoor Sahib MP and radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, challenging Punjab govt's decision refusing him permission to attend the ongoing Budget session of Parliament.Opposing the plea, counsel for the state of Punjab submitted the govt had already rejected Amritpal's request for temporary release. The decision, the state said, was taken in view of concerns relating to law and order, as well as the need to maintain peace and harmony. Seeking time to respond formally to the petition, the state requested 10 days to file its reply.
When the matter came up before a division bench comprising the Chief Justice and Justice Sanjeev Berry, the counsel appearing for Amritpal submitted he has been in preventive detention under the National Security Act (NSA). It was submitted that Amritpal is a civil prisoner and no trial commenced in the case in connection with which he is lodged in prison.The HC was informed that his continued detention and consequent inability to attend the Budget session effectively deprived nearly 19 lakh constituents of their right to representation in Parliament by their elected representative.Accepting the request, the bench adjourned the matter to Feb 23 for further hearing. Amritpal was arrested on April 23, 2023. Since then, he has been under detention at Dibrugarh jail in Assam. He was elected from the Khadoor Sahib constituency, Punjab, during the 2024 general elections by securing over 4 lakh votes.