Committee to review absent MPs’ leave, Centre informs HC

The Centre has informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that a 15-member committee, headed by Biplab Kumar Deb, has been constituted by the Lok Sabha Speaker to examine leave applications of all absent MPs, including Amritpal Singh.

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During the resumed hearing on Amritpal’s petition, Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain, accompanied by advocate Dheeraj Jain, told a Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nago and Justice Sumeet Goel that the committee, formed the previous day, would review the cases of all such MPs. Taking the Centre’s statement on record, the HC adjourned the matter to next week.

Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh is currently lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail under the National Security Act. In his petition, he has sought permission to attend parliament sessions, arguing that his prolonged absence violated his constitutional right and left his constituency unrepresented.

He has also pointed out that absence exceeding 60 days could result in his seat being declared vacant, affecting nearly 19 lakh people. He contended that his detention and resultant absence were involuntary, constituting forced exclusion, which undermined the democratic process.

Amritpal has further requested authorisation to meet officials and ministers regarding the MP Local Area Development Scheme to address local development projects.