Gurpreet Singh :- The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday issued interim directions in the case of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, stating that he will continue to remain lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam, with all related cases to be heard within the jail premises.
The development comes as the Punjab Government decided not to extend the National Security Act (NSA) against the MP, with the current detention period set to expire on April 22. Despite this, the state clarified before the court that legal proceedings in multiple criminal cases registered against him will continue independently.
Hearing a petition filed by the state, the High Court directed that trial proceedings in all cases linked to Amritpal Singh be conducted in Assam itself, effectively ruling out his immediate transfer to Punjab. Officials informed the court that a total of 12 cases are pending against the MP.
The state government, through its counsel, argued that bringing Amritpal Singh back to Punjab could pose serious law and order challenges. Citing security concerns and intelligence inputs, the government maintained that his presence in the state might lead to unrest, and therefore opposed any move for his relocation.
In its submission, the Punjab Government also requested that once the NSA period lapses, the Punjab Police be allowed to formally arrest him in Assam in connection with the pending cases and continue his detention in Dibrugarh Jail to avoid any disruption.
Sources indicated that the state has already approached the Union Home Ministry, seeking permission to keep the MP lodged in Assam under provisions of the Prisoners Transfer Act, 1952, and relevant state amendments. The government has also proposed that court proceedings be conducted through video conferencing to ensure continuity without compromising security.
Amritpal Singh, who was elected to Parliament after a prolonged legal and political battle, has so far been unable to participate in parliamentary proceedings. The matter remains under judicial consideration, with further hearings expected in the coming weeks.
