Decide MP Amritpal's Parole Application To Attend Parliament Winter Session Within 7 Days: Punjab & Haryana High Court To State

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed Punjab Government to decide NSA detainee MP Amritpal Singh's application seeking parole to attend Parliament winter session, “within 7 days” preferably before the session starts.

Amritpal has been accused of propagating "Khalistani separatism" and posing a threat to the security of the State and maintenance of public order. 

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry during the hearing also questioned Senior Advocate RS Bains appearing for Amritpal that on “what topics will he be speaking or will he be a mute spectator? What all have you researched?.”

Answering the query, the Senior Advocate responded that he will probably speak on flood relief issues.

ASG Satya Pal Jain appearing for the Union Government apprised the Court that only the competent authority in State can grant permission to Singh to attend the Parliament.

Bains said the representation for temporary release has been made to all authorities, including the District Magistrate and State government. 

Ad. AG Chanchal Singla for Punjab government argued that Singh has only made a representation and that is not submitted in a proper application format.

However, the Court asked the State to treat the representation as application.

“We will consider it,” Singla then said.

Amritpal Singh is currently detained in Assam's Dibrugarh Jail under the National Security Act (NSA). He has invoked Section 15 of the NSA, which empowers the competent authority to grant parole to a detainee in exceptional circumstances The appropriate government can grant a temporary release for a specified period, either with or without conditions, and can cancel this release at any time.

Punjab's Khadoor Sahib MP stated in the plea that he wants to represent the people of his Constituency before the Parliament and also to highlight the various issues faced by the people of his constituency in the true spirit of democracy and in consonance with the constitution of India.

Earlier, the petitioner was also granted parole on July 05, 2024, for four days, during which he was taken to Parliament for his oath-taking ceremony, where he was sworn in as a Member of Parliament

The plea highlights that one of the petitioner's co-detenue namely Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal @ Kulwant Singh Raoke who was similarly detained under the National Security Act, 1980 at Central Jail, Dibrugarh, Assam and on the same grounds as those of the present petitioner was granted the concession of Parole under the provisions of Section 15 of NSA Act for a time period of about 7 days to conduct the last rites of his deceased uncle.

Title: Amritpal Singh v. UOI & Ors.