Punjab and Haryana High Court Orders Continued Detention of Amritpal Singh

The Punjab and Haryana High Court issued a ruling on Friday, mandating that Amritpal Singh, a Khalistani leader and MP from Khadoor Sahib, remain in custody at the Dibrugarh jail in Assam even after his detention period under the National Security Act (NSA) expires on April 22. This interim order was delivered during a hearing on March 17, overseen by a bench led by the Chief Justice and Justice Sanjeev Bery, which was reviewing a petition filed by the Punjab government. The petition requested the continued detention of Singh in connection with multiple cases, including the attack on the Ajnala police station in 2023. The Punjab government argued that bringing Singh back to Punjab could pose a threat to law and order, citing intelligence inputs. Acknowledging these concerns, the court permitted his continued detention at Dibrugarh jail beyond April 22, the date his NSA custody is set to end.

Singh's attorney opposed this decision, arguing that his detention in Assam limits his ability to pursue legal remedies such as bail and trial proceedings. The defense highlighted that Singh is named in 11 FIRs and insisted that he should be formally arrested in all cases and tried collectively. After hearing arguments from both sides, the High Court allowed the interim continuation of his detention in Assam and instructed authorities to ensure proper arrangements for legal access. The court also directed jail officials to facilitate participation in court proceedings via video conferencing and to provide opportunities for consultations with his lawyers.

The Assam government assured the court that adequate infrastructure is already in place within the jail premises. Taking this into account, the bench permitted that all pending cases be heard virtually from Dibrugarh. During the proceedings, the court raised the question of whether the defense could guarantee that Singh's return to Punjab would not disrupt public order. Singh, who faces 11 criminal charges, will now participate in court hearings via video conferencing from Dibrugarh jail. The date for the next hearing has yet to be determined. Amritpal Singh, the leader of the radical group 'Waris Punjab De,' who has styled himself after the Khalistani separatist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was arrested on April 23, 2023, after evading authorities for nearly a month.