Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed that Amritpal Singh will continue to remain in custody at Dibrugarh jail in Assam even after his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) ends on April 22.
The interim order was issued while the court was hearing a petition filed by the Punjab government, which sought his continued detention citing concerns over law and order. The state argued that transferring him back to Punjab at this stage could trigger unrest, based on intelligence inputs. The bench, led by the Chief Justice along with Justice Sanjeev Berry, accepted these concerns for the time being and allowed his continued stay in Assam beyond the expiry of the NSA detention.
Amritpal Singh’s legal team opposed the move, stating that keeping him lodged in a distant state restricts his ability to effectively pursue legal remedies, including applying for bail and participating in trial proceedings. The defence also pointed out that he is named in multiple FIRs and requested that he be formally arrested in all cases and tried together.
After considering both arguments, the court struck a balance by permitting his continued custody in Dibrugarh while ensuring that his legal rights are not hindered. It directed authorities to facilitate access to legal counsel and allow court proceedings to be conducted through video conferencing. The Assam administration informed the court that the necessary infrastructure is already available within the जेल premises, enabling virtual hearings.
The court also raised a key concern during the proceedings—whether the defence could guarantee that Singh’s return to Punjab would not disrupt public order—highlighting the security dimension influencing the decision.
Amritpal Singh, who faces multiple criminal cases including those linked to the 2023 Ajnala police station attack, will now continue to attend hearings virtually from Dibrugarh jail. The next hearing date is yet to be scheduled.
Singh, who heads the Waris Punjab De group, was arrested in April 2023 after evading authorities for several weeks following the Ajnala incident, where his supporters allegedly stormed a police station. Despite being in custody, he contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent candidate and won from Khadoor Sahib.
The case now sits at the intersection of national security considerations and legal due process, with the court opting for a cautious approach while the broader proceedings continue.
