‘Serious threat’: Punjab rejects Amritpal Singh plea to attend Budget session of Parliament

Amritpal's counsel Imaan Singh Khara said they received state government’s reply on Monday.

3 min readChandigarhFeb 3, 2026 01:57 PM IST

Amritpal is lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail, Assam, under a preventive detention order passed by the District Magistrate, Amritsar. (file)

The Punjab government Monday declined jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh’s application for temporary release to attend the ongoing Budget session of Parliament, citing “serious threat to the security of the state and the maintenance of public order”.

The decision, issued by the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Home Affairs, comes in compliance with a Punjab and Haryana High Court directive dated January 23.

Also read | Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court

The High Court had directed the Punjab government to decide within seven working days on the representation of Amritpal —an NSA detainee — seeking temporary release to attend the Budget session. The Budget session commenced on January 28 and will continue till February 13 in the first phase. The second phase will take place from March 9 to April 2.

Amritpal’s counsel Imaan Singh Khara said they received state government’s reply on Monday.

Amritpal is lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail, Assam, under a preventive detention order passed by the District Magistrate, Amritsar.

In his representation dated January 17, Amritpal had sought temporary release to personally attend the Budget session. He had also requested authorities to make necessary arrangements for his presence in Parliament.

The Punjab government, however, declined the request, stating that Amritpal’s release, even temporarily, would pose a “serious threat/prejudice to the security of the State and the maintenance of public order.”

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The order references detailed grounds of detention that describe the MP’s activities as “highly dangerous” with the “potential and designs to imperil and subvert the security of the State.”

Both the District Magistrate, Amritsar, and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Amritsar (Rural), strongly opposed the temporary release in their comments submitted to the government.

The order heavily relies on constitutional precedents. It cites the 1966 Supreme Court Constitution Bench judgment in K. Anandan Nambiar and another Vs. Chief Secretary, Govt. of Madras and others, which held that a detained MP has no constitutional right to attend parliamentary sessions and enjoys no special status above an ordinary citizen. This principle was reaffirmed in the 1975 Constitution Bench ruling in Smt Indira Nehru Gandhi Vs. Shri Raj Narain & Anr.

“Taking into consideration the entire record and keeping in mind the gravity and enormity of the grounds of detention, and his conduct…necessitating his continuous and uninterrupted detention for the maximum period of twelve months… and the absence of any legally enforceable right to attend the session(s) of Parliament while in detention,” the government order reads.

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The decision was communicated to Amritpal via email and special messenger through the Superintendent of Dibrugarh Central Jail, as well as to his counsel, Senior Advocate R.S. Bains. Copies have also been sent to central ministries, the Director General of Police, Punjab, and other concerned authorities.

Amritpal, leader of Waris Punjab De, was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2024 while already in judicial custody in Assam in connection with various cases. His detention under the NSA was imposed shortly before the expiry of an earlier detention period, citing continued threat to national security and public order.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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