Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday introduced three landmark bills in the Lok Sabha aimed at creating a legal framework for the removal of the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and State Ministers if they are arrested and detained on serious criminal charges.
The proposed legislations include the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The Bills were referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament after approval by the House.
The move triggered sharp protests from opposition MPs, with leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi, K.C. Venugopal, and Manish Tewari calling the bills unconstitutional and an assault on federalism. Owaisi termed the move “the final nail in the coffin of elected governments,” warning against a “police state.”
Defending the proposal, Shah rejected claims of haste, stressing that all parties would get a chance to contribute during the committee’s scrutiny. He added, “We cannot be so shameless that we continue to occupy constitutional positions while facing serious charges.”
Under the Bills, if a minister, chief minister, or even the Prime Minister is arrested and detained for 30 days or more in a criminal case carrying at least five years’ imprisonment, they would cease to hold office—unless valid reasons are tendered before the 31st day.
