HC Rejects Amritpal’s Plea Against NSA Detention as ‘Clear as Daylight’
The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday dismissed a challenge by Amritpal Singh to his third consecutive detention under the National Security Act. The division bench found the preventive order lawful and necessary to protect public order.
High Court ruling
The bench comprised Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry. They issued a 15-page order upholding the state action.
Judges said the detention order was immune from judicial review and described the matter as clear as daylight. The court observed the April 15, 2025 state order could not be limited to a single district or incident.
Scope of the detention order
The April 15 order authorized all district magistrates and police commissioners to invoke the NSA. The bench held the Amritsar district magistrate lawfully exercised that power.
Allegations against Amritpal Singh
Amritpal has been lodged in Dibrugarh Jail in Assam since April 2023. The state accuses him of conspiring with anti-national elements, gangsters, and terrorists.
Authorities allege plans to physically eliminate persons who might expose his activities. The detention notice linked him to the October 9, 2024 murder of Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau.
An intelligence alert dated March 23, 2025 alleged direction from jail. It claimed Amritpal helped form Anandpur Khalsa Fauj International Association in Canada.
The alert said the group promoted armed struggle for a Khalsa Raj in the form of Khalistan. It also referred to alleged arms training and planned protests at Indian embassies.
Defence points and court assessment
Amritpal argued he was already detained when the Nau murder occurred. His petition said the police report contained no evidence against him.
The high court disagreed. It found sufficient material before the district magistrate to justify preventive detention.
Punjab government’s further requests
Punjab moved the high court to prevent Amritpal’s release after April 22. The state sought permission to investigate him at a designated place in Dibrugarh, Assam.
Authorities also asked that all court proceedings start afresh and proceed by video link. This would include production after arrest, remand, and presentation of the chargesheet.
The plea on these directions is expected to be heard on Friday.
Filmogaz.com will follow this story and report further developments.
