The Punjab & Haryana High Court resumed the hearing of the habeas corpus petition filed by the legal team Waris Punjab De seeking the production of Amritpal Singh from alleged illegal detention. While the Government of Punjab and Punjab Police have also informed the court that Amritpal Singh is still on the run, his legal team alleges that the Pro-Khalistan leader is already in custody. Similarly, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday fixed habeas corpus petition seeking Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh’s ‘release’ for April 24 after making it clear that his counsel had not come out with concrete information on the place of his alleged detention by the Punjab Police despite repeated opportunities.
What Happened in the High Court in Amritpal Singh Habeas Corpus Petition?
As per reports, when the case came up resumed for hearing before Justice N.S. Shekhawat’s Bench, the counsel for the petitioner argued that he had submitted his stand. The State, on the other hand, contended that so far it had not received any reply from the petitioner’s counsel. Responding to his averments, the petitioner’s counsel contended he had submitted his reply to the Union of India. Justice Shekhawat made it clear that the State of Punjab was the main respondent. Accepting the counsel’s plea for additional time, the Bench adjourned the matter.
What happened in the last hearing?
On March 28, the High Court had asked the legal team of Waris Punjab De to present evidence to back their claims saying that Amritpal Singh is already in Police custody. Furthermore, State advocate general (AG) Vinod Ghai told the HC bench of justice NS Shekhawat that efforts to nab Amritpal were underway and that he had not been arrested yet. “Punjab police have been categorically denying the custody of Amritpal. You show us some evidence that he is in the illegal custody of Punjab police,” the judge said adding “a warrant officer” would raid the area to recover him. “I will appoint a warrant officer or direct the concerned chief judicial magistrate to raid the area to recover him. You must show the court something to disapprove the stance of the state government,” the judge said.
Justice NS Shekhawat of the HC had made these observations while hearing the habeas petition filed by Imaan Singh Khara, legal advisor of Waris-Punjab-De organization headed by Amritpal Singh. The petitioner has been submitting that on March 18, Amritsar and Jalandhar police teams, along with central paramilitary forces, had detained Amritpal Singh from the area of Shahkot in Punjab’s Jalandhar illegally and forcibly without disclosing any reason.