Pro-Khalistani leader and Waris Punjab De chief, Amritpal Singh, has initiated a fresh legal battle against the Punjab government. He has filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging his third consecutive order of preventive detention under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).
Legal Challenge Against Extended Detention
Amritpal Singh's legal counsel confirmed the filing of the petition on Thursday. The plea contests the latest detention order issued against him, which was sanctioned by the Punjab government. This marks the third time authorities have invoked the NSA to keep the controversial leader in custody, extending his time behind bars without a formal trial.
The sequence of events is critical. Amritpal Singh was initially arrested on April 23, 2023, in Moga's Rode village following a massive month-long manhunt. His first detention under the NSA was approved soon after. As the initial detention period was set to expire, the state government issued a second NSA order in October 2023. Now, facing the lapse of the second order, the government has executed a third NSA detention order against him in 2024, prompting this high court challenge.
Background of the Case and Legal Proceedings
The roots of this case trace back to February 2023, when Amritpal Singh and his supporters stormed a police station in Ajnala, demanding the release of one of his aides. This incident triggered a major crackdown. Singh managed to evade capture for over a month before his dramatic arrest in April.
Since his incarceration, he has been held at the high-security Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam, along with several of his associates. The use of the National Security Act allows the state to detain individuals for up to 12 months without formal charges to prevent them from acting in a manner prejudicial to national security or public order.
Notably, this is not Singh's first legal recourse. He had previously challenged the first two NSA detention orders as well. The High Court had even issued notices to the state government regarding those petitions. However, with the government issuing successive new orders, the earlier petitions were effectively rendered infructuous, leading to this new challenge against the third order.
Implications and Next Steps
The filing of this petition sets the stage for another significant legal confrontation between the detained leader and the Punjab state authorities. The High Court is expected to examine the grounds cited by the government for repeatedly extending his detention under the preventive law. The core legal argument will likely revolve around the necessity and justification for continuing his detention without trial.
The state government, on its part, has consistently maintained that Amritpal Singh's activities and influence pose a significant threat to public peace and communal harmony in Punjab. They argue that his release could lead to a resurgence of activities detrimental to state security.
As the legal process unfolds, all eyes will be on the Punjab and Haryana High Court's hearing. The court's decision on this petition could have far-reaching consequences, not only for Amritpal Singh's personal liberty but also for the application of preventive detention laws in the state. The outcome will signal how the judiciary balances state security concerns with fundamental rights in a high-profile and sensitive case.
