New Delhi | Aug, 20 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to move three major bills in the Lok Sabha today including the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to further amend the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963.
The Minister will also introduce the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to further amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 and the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, to further amend the Constitution of India. The Constitution (130th Amendment )Bill, 2025, seeks to remove a Central or State Minister who is facing allegations of corruption or serious offences and has been detained for at least 30 days.
According to a statement of objects and reasons attached to the Bill, the elected representatives represent hopes and aspirations of the people of India. It is expected that they rise above political interests and act only in the public interest and for the welfare of people. It is expected that the character and conduct of Ministers holding the office should be beyond any ray of suspicion.
A Minister, who is facing allegations of serious criminal offences, arrested and detained in custody, may thwart or hinder the canons of constitutional morality and principles of good governance and eventually diminish the constitutional trust reposed by people in him.
There is no provision under the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 (20 of 1963) for removal of the Chief Minister or a Minister who is arrested and detained in custody on account of serious criminal charges. There is a need to amend section 45 of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, for providing a legal framework for removal of the Chief Minister or a Minister in such cases. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives.
Reacting to the proposed Bill, Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi posted on X that the “new proposed law removes incumbent CM, etc, immediately on arrest. “Best way to destabilise opposition is to unleash biased central agencies to arrest opposition CMs and despite being unable to defeat them electorally remove them by arbitrary arrests and no ruling incumbent CM ever touched,”he posted.
There are two days left in the Monsoon Session, which is set to close on August 21. Opposition members criticised the government’ move to bring the bills in the revised agenda that was put out late evening, saying it is an attempt to distract attention from their protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The Opposition has boycotted proceedings on several occasions in this session and continued protests have marred proceedings.
