Chandigarh, Jan. 23 — Amritpal Singh, the MP for Khadoor Sahib, who is currently detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Assam, filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday, seeking permission from the Centre to attend the upcoming budget session of Parliament.
Singh’s plea states that his absence from the session deprives his constituents of proper representation in the Lok Sabha.
“I am unable to meet with ministers or address urgent issues affecting the people I represent,” the petition states.
Singh argues that barring him from attending Parliament contradicts his rights as an MP and violates the Constitution’s guarantee of equality under Article 14.
Parliamentary rules stipulate that an MP who is absent for over 60 consecutive days risks losing their membership. With the budget session set to last until April 4, 2025, including the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1, Singh’s absence of 46 days thus far has raised concerns about his status.
His petition, which is awaiting a hearing, follows previous requests made in late November. Singh sent a formal plea to the Lok Sabha Speaker and also approached the deputy commissioner to request permission, but no response has been received to date.
Singh, a Khalistan separatist, had won the June 2024 election as an Independent from the Khadoor Sahib constituency.
He has been imprisoned in Dibrugarh Central Jail since April 2023, following a crackdown on his Waris Punjab De outfit.
In April 2024, the Punjab government reimposed the NSA on him and nine others connected to his group.
This legal move comes just days after Singh’s father, Tarsem Singh, and Faridkot Independent MP Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa launched the Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) at a political conference during the Maghi Mela on January 14 in Mukstar. The party has begun a membership drive.