New Delhi, August 20, 2025
In a high-stakes move during the Monsoon session of Parliament, the Union Government—led by Home Minister Amit Shah—introduced a trio of bills aimed at empowering constitutional authorities to remove the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, and state/UT ministers if they remain under arrest or detention for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges (those punishable by at least five years in prison).
Specifically, the proposed legislation includes:
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Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025
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Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025
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Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025
These are set to be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for detailed scrutiny.
Key Provisions at a Glance
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Any officeholder—including the PM, Chief Ministers, or state/UT ministers—who is arrested and detained on serious charges for 30 days straight will be automatically removed from office on the 31st day unless they resign.
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The 130th Constitutional Amendment specifically updates:
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Article 75 (Union Ministers including PM)
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Article 164 (State Chief Ministers and Ministers)
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Article 239AA (Delhi Government)
These amendments streamline the process for removal without judicial conviction or parliamentary proceedings.
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Political Fallout
The proposals ignited fierce debate across parties:
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Congress (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra): Described the move as “completely draconian,” warning it could be weaponized to detain and remove opposition leaders without judicial verdicts, undermining democratic foundations.
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Trinamool Congress (Mahua Moitra): Decried the bills as “very dangerous” and likened the situation to a “super emergency” in the making.
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The Opposition has signaled a confrontational response—some MPs vowed to “break the table and tear the bill” on the parliamentary floor.
Meanwhile, the Government presents the legislation as a bold measure to uphold moral governance and restore public trust in leadership.
