The Centre has confirmed to the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Amritpal Singh, the MP from Khadoor Sahib, has been granted a 54-day leave of absence from the Lok Sabha. This leave, sanctioned by a parliamentary committee, secures his membership in the face of potential disqualification due to prolonged absence. The update was provided by the Additional Solicitor General of India, Satya Pal Jain, during a court session presided over by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel.
Amritpal Singh, who has been incarcerated in Assam’s Dibrugarh Central Jail following his involvement with the radical Sikh group Waris Punjab De, had his leave approved on Tuesday. The Lok Sabha secretariat confirmed this development, alleviating concerns over his continued representation of his constituency. Jain presented the court with a copy of the approval letter, reinforcing the legality of the leave granted.
Following the court’s receipt of this information, Amritpal Singh opted to withdraw his petition, which also sought permission for him to attend the ongoing parliamentary budget session. Initially, Singh’s plea highlighted the urgency of his situation, pointing out that missing more than 60 consecutive days could result in loss of his parliamentary seat. Until his leave was granted, he had been absent for 46 days as of December 12, 2024.
The situation drew parallels with Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, who, despite being detained in Tihar Jail under charges related to terror funding, was granted parole to attend the Lok Sabha for two days the previous month. This precedent bolstered Singh’s case, highlighting discrepancies in the treatment of detained MPs.
Singh, a notable independent candidate who secured his seat with 1.9 lakh votes, has been a controversial figure due to his political and activist roles. His arrest on April 23, 2023, followed a month-long pursuit and was part of a broader crackdown on his organization by Punjab authorities. The National Security Act was re-invoked against Singh and his associates in April 2024, complicating his legal and political battles.
