State Has Facilitated NSA Detainee Amritpal Singh To File Nomination For Lok Sabha Elections: Punjab Govt To High Court

The Punjab Government submitted before the Punjab & Haryana High Court that the state has facilitated Amritpal Singh, who is currently detained under the National Security Act (NSA), to file his nomination for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Considering that the prayers made in the petition had already been complied with, Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj said that the petition would be "infructuous".

DAG Punjab, Arjun Sheoran informed the Court that, "Two sets of nomination forms and other paper work were filled in and signed by the detenue on 09.05.2024. The detenue was allowed to meet his proposer and Advocate at Dibrugarh Central Jail on 09.05.2024."

"The Superintendent Central Jail Dibrugarh will administer oath to the detenue as per the provisions of law including Handbook for Candidate, 2023 and issue Certificate for Receipt of Oath and send original form of Oath to Returning Officer, 03- Khadoor Sahab, (Punjab). The oath will be administered as and when a request is made by the detenue after his nomination form is submitted before the Returning Officer," Sheoran added.

In April 2023 'Waris Punjab De' head, Amritpal Singh was arrested and detained under the NSA Act, 1980 and thereafter in March Second detention order was passed against him by District Magistrate, Amritsar.

Singh who is lodged in Dibrugarh Jail, is contesting Lok Sabha polls from the Sri Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency in Punjab as an Independent candidate.

The plea alleged that on May 8, the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab had written to Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, Tarn Taran to take necessary action as per instructions and facilitate the petitioner to contest the election.

However, "till date the State of Punjab and District Magistrate, Amritsar have deliberately not issued any further instructions in order to delay and make sure that the petitioner is not able to file his nomination to contest Lok Sabha Election," it added.

Singh sought directions to the State, Union Government and Election Commission to release him for seven day or make arrangements for him to fill out a nomination form, for the appointment of election agents/ authorized nominees and all other paperwork which is required for filling nomination papers for contesting the 2024 elections from Sri Khadoor Sahib Constituency.

Sr. Advocate R.S. Bain appeared for the petitioner.

ASG Satya Pal Jain, Sr. counsel Dheeraj Jain for UOI.

DAG Arjun Sheoran for Punjab Government.

Case: Amritpal Singh v. State of Punjab