The Punjab and Haryana High Court has declared the petition filed by detained Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, seeking temporary parole to attend the Winter Session of Parliament, as having "virtually become infructuous." This ruling on Thursday, December 18, 2025, effectively ended his legal bid to participate in the parliamentary session that concluded the same day.
Court Questions Practicality of Last-Minute Relief
At the hearing's outset, a Division Bench led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu raised doubts about the feasibility of granting any order in the MP's favour. The Bench pointed out the significant logistical challenge: transporting Amritpal Singh from Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam to Delhi would take a minimum of 10 hours even by helicopter. Given this constraint and the session's imminent end, the court deemed granting relief at such a late stage impracticable.
Timeline of the Parole Request and Rejection
Amritpal Singh, detained under the National Security Act (NSA) since April 2023, had filed a representation in November seeking parole under Section 15 of the NSA specifically to attend the Winter Session. Following a high court directive on November 21, the Punjab government was ordered to decide on his plea within a week.
The state authorities, however, rejected his request on November 24, citing serious apprehensions regarding law and order and public security. Challenging this rejection in the last week of November, Singh's legal team argued before the high court that the denial was arbitrary and amounted to silencing an elected representative.
Hearings Hampered by Lawyers' Strike
The matter saw hearings in early December, with the state government vehemently opposing parole on security grounds. The judicial process faced further delays as effective hearings could not be held on December 15, 16, and 17 due to an abstention from work by lawyers. Although the MP's counsel presented arguments, submissions from the respondents' side remained incomplete.
During this period, on December 16, Amritpal Singh himself addressed the court via video conference from Dibrugarh jail, a day coinciding with the lawyers' strike. The court was also informed that the Winter Session was scheduled to end on December 18.
Liberty for Future Sessions Granted
In light of these circumstances, the Bench concluded that the cause of action had effectively lapsed. "In these circumstances, the cause has virtually become infructuous," the court observed, deciding not to proceed further with the petition.
However, the court provided a significant concession for the future. It granted Amritpal Singh the liberty to approach the appropriate forum should a similar need arise for attending future sessions of the Lok Sabha. The MP, who took his oath earlier this year during a brief parole period, has not been able to attend any parliamentary sitting since his detention.
