The Punjab government has decided not to grant temporary parole to jailed Khadoor Sahib MP and NSA detainee Amritpal Singh. The NSA detainee had sought the relief to attend the Winter Session of Parliament starting December 1. The Punjab government’s decision comes a week after the Punjab and Haryana court dismissed a petition and directed the state to decide on the MP’s parole request.
Why did the Punjab Government deny parole?
Reports suggest that the government cited concerns over potential law and order issues if the release was allowed. A report submitted by the police to the Home Secretary warned about potential implications on the state’s law and order situation if the Khadoor Sahib MP were to be released. The government has rejected the request of Amritpal’s parole, after studying police and district reports.
Punjab Govt to inform Parliament
The government’s decision would be conveyed formally to the Lok Sabha Speaker as well as to the detained MP.
Where is Amritpal now?
Amritpal Singh, 32, is currently in Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the National Security Act (NSA). On November 10, he approached the Supreme Court seeking release to attend Parliament. Amritpal had invoked Section 15 of the NSA, which empowers the competent authority to grant parole to a detainee in exceptional circumstances. The Supreme Court declined to hear his case and directed him to file a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Following this, he submitted a fresh plea in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On November 21, the High Court instructed the Punjab government to decide on his parole request within one week.
Amritpal Singh has been in jail since June 2023 for..
On November 21, the High Court directed the Punjab government to decide the matter within a week. The Punjab Home Department sought a report from the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner and the district police chief. Amritpal Singh has been in jail since June 2023 for allegedly promoting a separatist agenda. In May 2024, he contested the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate and won by around 4 lakh votes. He was granted a four-day parole in July 2024 to take his oath as an MP but has not attended a single session of the Lok Sabha to date.
