Can Amritpal Singh lose his seat for missing Parliamentary proceedings?
What's the story
Amritpal Singh, the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha MP, has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking permission to attend parliamentary proceedings. Singh, who is currently lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail under the National Security Act (NSA), has been absent from Parliament for 46 days. This is dangerously close to the 60-day limit that could see his seat declared vacant and leave his nearly 19 lakh constituents unrepresented.
Constitutional rights
Singh's plea: Detention politically motivated
In his petition, Singh argued that preventing him from attending Parliament violates his constitutional rights. He alleges that his detention is politically motivated, designed to curb his popularity. Further, his previous requests for permission to attend parliamentary proceedings have gone unanswered by both the Lok Sabha Speaker and local authorities. The appeal also cites cases in which jailed MPs were permitted to attend parliamentary sessions. Singh referenced the case of MP Rashid Engineer, who was granted parole for this purpose.
Detention details
Singh's detention and family's response
The detention order against Singh was passed by the Deputy Magistrate of Amritsar in March 2023 and has been extended several times since. His father, Tarsem Singh, had earlier slammed the imposition of the Unlawful Activities and Prevention Act (UAPA) on his son as a "conspiracy" to thwart their political ambitions. He accused Bhagwant Mann's government of having an "anti-Sikh mindset" and defaming his son without proof or investigation.
Developmental work
Singh's plea for engagement with MPLADS officials
Apart from seeking permission to attend Parliament, Singh is also asking for permission to interact with officials on the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). He argued that his absence from these discussions is hampering developmental work in his constituency. The Punjab and Haryana High Court is likely to hear his case in two days, per reports. If he succeeds, he could attend Parliament despite detention, else a byelection could be called in Khadoor Sahib.