An election case has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the election of Punjab Kadur Shaib MP Amritpal Singh, who is detained under the National Security Act (NSA).
Amritpal has been lodged in Dibrugarh Jail since his arrest in April 2023. He won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from Sri Kadur Sahib assembly constituency in Punjab. He is the head of the so-called “pro-Khalistani” organisation Waris Punjab De and is also an accused in various FIRs, including the Ajnala police station attack case.
Bikramjeet Singh, an independent candidate in Punjab’s Kadur Sahib constituency, filed a petition contesting the June elections in Amritpal, alleging that “his religious identity was used to garner votes in the name of religion, which is illegal and tantamount to corrupt practices.”
The petition states that while Amritpal was in jail, his family and team visited various religious places, gurdwaras and nagar kirtans, Hindu religious centres, and also released his manifesto from the gurdwara.
“Rallies were held in his favour at various Gurdwaras and slogans were raised in his favour.Thus, the accused have not only failed to protect the sanctity of religious places but also violated the provisions of the Representation of People Act by soliciting votes in religious places and on this ground alone his election is liable to be held invalid.” the petition states.
The elections are also being challenged for violating the Model Code of Conduct by promoting content on social media without obtaining approval from the competent authorities and for not filing complete candidacy papers.
“During his detention under the National Security Act, special permission/sanction was required from the competent authority/District Governor and the Election Officer. The Election Officer concerned not only overlooked the incomplete and defective Form 26 and Form 2(A) but also did not call upon the respondent No. 5 (Amritpal Singh) to file a counter affidavit/reply to the objections filed by the petitioner and other Opposition Candidates and the Election Officer concerned did not exercise care while scrutinizing the documents and did not issue speaking orders deliberately to mislead the Opposition Candidates.“,” the petition adds.
In view of the above, the petition seeks that Amritpal’s election be declared “null and void”.
Rahul Kumar Adhere, counsel for the petitioner.
Title: Vikramjit Singh v. Election Commission of India and Others
