New Delhi, Aug 20 :Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced three significant bills in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, including the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which proposes provisions for the removal of elected ministers in case of prolonged custody in serious criminal cases.
Alongside the J&K-specific legislation, the Home Minister also moved The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, and The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
All three were tabled during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament and are aimed at establishing a uniform legal framework for dealing with ministers — including the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and Union Territory ministers — who are under judicial custody for grave offences.
According to the proposed provision in the J&K Reorganisation Amendment Bill, a minister who remains in custody for a continuous period of 30 days on charges punishable with imprisonment of five years or more would be subject to removal from office.
In the context of Jammu and Kashmir, this removal would be carried out by the Lieutenant Governor based on the Chief Minister’s advice, which is expected to be given by the 31st day of custody. If the advice is not received in time, the minister would automatically cease to hold office from the following day.
After presenting the bills, Shah moved a motion to refer all three to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
The House accepted the motion without division, clearing the way for a detailed and clause-wise review of the proposed laws. The Joint Committee will include members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and is expected to examine the provisions thoroughly, seek expert inputs, and submit its report ahead of the next session.(KNS)
