Government to Table Key Bills for Removal of PM, CMs, and Ministers Facing Serious Criminal Charges.
New Delhi:
In a significant move aimed at upholding the integrity of public office, the Union Government is set to introduce three major bills in Parliament on Wednesday that will provide a legal framework for the removal of the Prime Minister, Union ministers, Chief Ministers, and ministers of states or Union Territories if they are arrested or detained on serious criminal charges.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to move a motion in the Lok Sabha for referring the proposed legislation to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for detailed scrutiny.
The three bills are:
- Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025
- Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025
Addressing Legal Gaps
Each of these bills aims to plug existing legal loopholes that currently allow individuals holding high offices to remain in power despite being arrested or detained under serious criminal charges.
1. Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025
The bill seeks to amend Section 45 of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, which presently lacks any provision for the removal of a Chief Minister or minister of a Union Territory under such circumstances. The amendment aims to introduce a mechanism for immediate removal in the event of arrest or detention related to grave criminal offenses.
2. The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025
This crucial constitutional amendment bill proposes changes to Articles 75, 164, and 239AA of the Constitution. Currently, there is no constitutional mechanism for the removal of the Prime Minister, Union ministers, Chief Ministers, or state ministers who are in judicial custody for serious criminal charges. The amendment seeks to empower the President and Governors to remove such individuals, thereby reinforcing public accountability.
3. Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025
The bill proposes an amendment to Section 54 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. Similar to the Union Territories Act, the 2019 law does not have provisions for the removal of the Chief Minister or ministers of Jammu and Kashmir when facing serious criminal charges and judicial detention. The amendment aims to align the governance of J&K with the broader national legal standard being proposed.
Home Minister to Move Motion for Joint Committee Review
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will formally move to have the three bills referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, ensuring that the proposed changes are thoroughly examined by members across party lines before they are brought back for debate and passage.
Significance and Political Implications
The move marks a landmark attempt by the government to reinforce ethical governance and restore public trust in constitutional offices. While opposition parties are likely to scrutinize the bills for political motivations, the legislation is expected to find broader support for addressing long-standing demands for stricter rules against criminalization of politics.
If passed, the laws will bring clarity and enforceability to a crucial area of governance that has often been caught in legal ambiguities and political loopholes.
