Amritpal granted 54-day leave, Centre informs HC
The Centre today informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Member of Parliament from Khadoor Sahib Amritpal Singh has been granted 54-day leave. The information was furnished before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel less than a fortnight after the Lok Sabha Speaker constituted a 15-member committee to examine leave applications of MPs, including Amritpal Singh.
Lok Sabha MP’s Apprehensions allayed
Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh had expressed apprehension that absence exceeding 60 days could result in his seat being declared vacant
A letter dated March 11 issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat said he was granted “leave of absence of 54 days” from June 24, 2024, to July 2, 2024, and from July 22, 2024, to August 9, 2024, and again from November 25, 2024 to December 20, 2024
Amritpal Singh had expressed apprehension that absence exceeding 60 days could result in his seat being declared vacant, affecting nearly 19 lakh people. As the matter came up for resumed hearing, Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain, along with advocate Dheeraj Jain, placed before the Bench the letter dated March 11 issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat granting “leave of absence of 54 days” from June 24, 2024, to July 2, 2024, and from July 22, 2024, to August 9, 2024, and again from November 25, 2024 to December 20, 2024.
Taking note of the letter, the Bench asserted: “So far as the apprehension of the petitioner of being dismembered from Parliament due to his absence, his concern stands assuaged by the letter dated March 11.”
Referring to his another prayer requesting authorisation to meet officials and ministers regarding the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) to address local development projects, the Bench said it was of the view that the conduct of parliamentary sessions were governed by a certain set of rules. “Therefore, it will be appropriate for the petitioner to prefer a representation to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha,” it said.
Amritpal Singh is currently detained in the Dibrugarh Central Jail under the National Security Act.
