Punjab Court Responds to Amritpal Singh’s Challenge Against Detention

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice to the Punjab government in response to a plea filed by Amritpal Singh, the Member of Parliament from Khadoor Sahib. Singh is challenging the legality of his third consecutive detention order under the National Security Act (NSA). This legal matter is scheduled for further hearing in the last week of January 2025.

Singh has been in preventive detention at Dibrugarh Jail in Assam since April 2023, following an initial detention order issued on March 18, 2023. His current plea specifically contests a new detention order dated April 17, 2025, which was ratified by the state government on April 25, 2025, and confirmed on June 24, 2025.

Legal Grounds for Detention

Amritpal Singh faces serious accusations, including allegations of conspiring with “anti-national elements, notorious gangsters, and terrorists” to eliminate individuals who could expose his activities. The basis for his detention also stems from a First Information Report (FIR) related to the murder of Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau on October 9, 2024. Hari Nau, previously a close associate of Singh, had reportedly distanced himself from Singh and was promoting a counter-narrative against the ‘Waris Punjab De’ (WPD) organization on social media.

Another significant allegation includes an intelligence alert dated March 23, 2025, which claimed that while incarcerated, Singh had directed the formation of the Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF) International Association in Canada. This group is purportedly advocating for armed struggle to establish “Khalsa Raj” in the form of Khalistan, along with plans to conduct protests at Indian embassies.

Amritpal Singh’s Defense

In his plea, Amritpal Singh argues that he was in detention at the time of the murder of Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau, asserting that “there is no possibility or circumstance under which he could have been involved.” He further contends that a review of the police report under Section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) for the murder case indicates “not an iota of evidence” against him.

The petition was prompted by recent directives from the Supreme Court, which ordered the High Court to resolve the matter within six weeks of the petition’s filing. On the same day, the Punjab government submitted extensive documentation to justify Amritpal Singh’s continued detention and to deny him the opportunity to attend the ongoing winter session of the Lok Sabha.

In its affidavit, the Punjab government, represented by Alok Shekhar, the additional chief secretary of the home department, argued that the severity of the grounds for Singh’s detention and his alleged conduct necessitate maintaining his detention for a maximum period of twelve months from April 23, 2025. The government claims this is essential for ensuring state security and public order.

Following the submission of this material, Amritpal Singh’s counsel requested time to review the documentation and prepare a response. The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for Thursday.

The outcome of this legal battle not only affects Singh but also has broader implications for the larger political landscape in Punjab and the ongoing discussions surrounding national security and civil liberties in India.