Parliament Panel to Rule on MP Amritpal Singh’s Leave Petition on March 10

Chandigarh: The Lok Sabha will be put up the decision on Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh’s leave petition on March 10 after a parliamentary panel deliberated. The Centre reported to the Punjab and Haryana High Court today that the 15-member committee, formed by the Lok Sabha Speaker, had examined leave requests of several absent MPs, including Singh, and decided on recommendations.

The update came on the resumed hearing before the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel. Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain, and advocate Dheeraj Jain, informed the court that the committee had met on Monday to consider the leave applications of five MPs.

“The committee has processed all the applications and made its recommendations, which will be laid before the Lok Sabha on March 10. The House will take the final call regarding the leave applications of MPs,” Jain told the court. He added that the proceedings of the parliamentary committee are confidential till officially laid before Parliament.

MP Amritpal Singh Seeks Permission to Attend Parliament

MP Amritpal Singh, the head of Waris Punjab De and a new MP, has been arrested at Dibrugarh Central Jail under the National Security Act (NSA). In his petition, he has contended that his long absence from parliamentary proceedings is against his constitutional rights and denies his constituents their right to representation.

Highlighting the implications of his absence, Singh pointed out that if a Member of Parliament remains absent for over 60 days without permission, their seat may be declared vacant, potentially impacting nearly 19 lakh voters in his constituency.

Moreover, he has asked leave to meet government officials and ministers about the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) so that the implementation of development projects in his constituency is ensured. He said he had formally requested the Lok Sabha Speaker on November 30 last year but was told that he had already missed 46 days of duty.

Even after repeated representations to the Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate, Singh asserts that he had no reaction, and hence he went to the judiciary for help.

With recommendations of the parliamentary panel to be tabled in the Lok Sabha on March 10, all attention would focus on the final call regarding his presence in Parliament.