Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], February 21: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday adjourned the petition of jailed Lok Sabha MP and pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh, seeking permission to attend the ongoing Parliament session. This move comes amid concerns that his seat may be vacated due to his extended absence.
The court has asked the Union of India whether a committee to address such issues has been formed by Parliament. The matter has been adjourned until Tuesday, February 25.
Amritpal Singh’s lawyer argued that the MP only has six days left to attend Parliament, or his seat will be declared vacant due to non-attendance. According to Article 101(4) of the Constitution, a member who is absent for more than 60 days without permission may have their seat vacated. Singh, who has been absent for 46 days, has only 12 days left before his membership could be disqualified.
The Independent MP from Khadoor Sahib had filed a previous petition on January 23, requesting permission to attend the Parliament session and to participate in the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. In his earlier petition, Singh argued that his continued absence was preventing his 19 lakh voters from having a voice in Parliament, claiming his detention was politically motivated and aimed at curbing his growing influence.
Amritpal Singh, originally from Jallu Kheda village in Amritsar, was elected as an independent MP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He is currently lodged in Assam’s Dibrugarh district under the National Security Act (NSA). Singh, who had lived in Dubai before returning to Punjab in 2022, became the chief of the pro-Khalistani organization Waris Punjab De after the death of Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu. He was arrested in February 2023 after he and his supporters clashed with the police during a protest at the Ajnala police station in a bid to release one of his aides.