Centre Confirms 54 Days’ Leave for Amritpal Singh
The Punjab and Haryana High Court was informed on Wednesday that Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh has been granted 54 days of leave. The Centre provided this update before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel.
This confirmation came less than two weeks after the Lok Sabha Speaker formed a 15-member committee to review leave applications of MPs, including Amritpal Singh.
High Court Takes Note of Leave Approval
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor-General Satya Pal Jain and advocate Dheeraj Jain presented a letter from the Lok Sabha Secretariat dated March 11. This document approved Amritpal Singh’s absence for the following periods:
| Leave Duration | Dates |
|---|---|
| First Period | June 24, 2024 – July 2, 2024 |
| Second Period | July 22, 2024 – August 9, 2024 |
| Third Period | November 25, 2024 – December 20, 2024 |
The court acknowledged the letter and assured that his absence would not lead to disqualification.
Request for Authorisation to Meet Officials
Amritpal Singh also sought permission to interact with officials and ministers regarding the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). However, the court directed him to submit a formal representation to the Lok Sabha Speaker, stating that parliamentary procedures must follow established rules.
Legal Battle Over Attendance in Parliament
Amritpal Singh, who leads Waris Punjab De, remains detained in Dibrugarh Central Jail under the National Security Act. His petition, filed through senior advocate R S Bains, argued that his absence violated constitutional rights and left his constituency unrepresented.
He also pointed out that missing more than 60 days could vacate his seat, impacting nearly 19 lakh constituents.
Previous Requests Ignored
Amritpal Singh had formally requested leave from the Lok Sabha Speaker on November 30, 2023. At that time, he had already been absent for 46 days. Despite repeated appeals to the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, he received no response, forcing him to approach the court.
With this latest development, his immediate concerns regarding parliamentary disqualification have been resolved. However, his request for direct engagement in development projects now depends on the Lok Sabha Speaker’s decision.
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