Govt likely to push PM-CMs jail bill in upcoming monsoon session

New Delhi: The Centre is likely to push the contentious Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, with the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) examining the legislation expected to adopt its report on July 17, sources said.

Once adopted, the Centre will examine the panel's recommendations before placing the bill before the Union Cabinet for approval and subsequently introducing it for consideration and passage in Parliament during the session, likely to begin on July 20.

The bill, introduced by home minister Amit Shah in August, seeks to debar the prime minister, chief ministers and other ministers from continuing in office if they are arrested and remain in judicial custody for 30 consecutive days in cases involving offences punishable with five years or more in prison.


Under the proposed law, such removal can be ordered by the President or the governor on the advice of the PM or the CM, respectively, or take effect automatically on the 31st day of detention. While JPC is expected to retain the bill's core provision, it is likely to recommend safeguards against its misuse, sources said.

The panel may also recommend clarity on the nature of offences to ensure that only serious crimes attract the proposed disqualification provisions. Talking to ET, panel chief Aparajita Sarangi said nobody had questioned the intent behind the bill. "The objective is to decriminalise politics and uphold constitutional morality," she said.

The 31-member panel was formed after a delay as several INDIA bloc parties - including Congress, SP, DMK and Trinamool - did not nominate members. Even after its formation, the panel had only five members outside the NDA fold: NCP-SP's Supriya Sule, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, YSRCP's Niranjan Reddy, Akali Dal's Harsimrat Kaur Badal and nominated MP Sudha Murty.

Following Badal's resignation, non-NDA strength came down to just four MPs in the 30-member panel. Opposition MPs are expected to submit dissent notes when the report is adopted, sources said. NDA MPs rejected the Opposition charge that the bill is undemocratic, anti-federal and violates the principle of natural justice by penalising elected members on the basis of custody rather than conviction.