The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) held an important meeting on January 7, where three crucial bills related to the situation of Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, and ministers governing from jail were discussed in detail. This was the third formal meeting of the 31-member JPC.
New Delhi: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) held its third important meeting on Wednesday, January 7, where the 31-member committee extensively discussed three significant bills for about three hours. These bills relate to provisions that define rules concerning Chief Ministers and Prime Ministers running the government even if they remain in jail for a continuous period of 30 days.
The meeting thoroughly reviewed the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill 2025, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Union Territories Government (Amendment) Bill 2025.
Which Bills were discussed?
A total of three bills were reviewed in this JPC meeting:
- 130th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2025
- Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- Union Territories Government (Amendment) Bill, 2025
The central objective of these bills is to determine the constitutional and administrative status of a Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or Union/State Minister if they are arrested in a serious criminal case and remain in judicial or police custody for a continuous period of 30 days. According to the proposed provisions, if a minister remains in custody for 30 days after arrest, it will be mandatory for them to resign from their post on the 31st day. If they do not resign voluntarily, they will be automatically removed from office.
“Running the Government from Jail is an Insult to Democracy”
After the meeting, JPC Chairperson Aparajita Sarangi stated that some political parties were invited to attend this meeting, but they refused to participate. Calling it unfortunate, she said that staying away from discussions on serious topics like democracy is not a sign of responsible politics.
Sarangi said, “The government wants to work within the bounds of law, while some political parties have a mindset of running the government outside the law. Running the government from jail is extremely disgraceful for democracy.” Her statement has sparked a new debate in political circles.
Opposition's Objection and Demand
During the meeting, an opposition MP demanded that opposition members also be given adequate opportunity to deliberate on these bills, so they could present their suggestions and objections before the committee. Their argument was that this issue is not limited to the government or the ruling party but concerns the entire democratic framework. However, the committee clarified that all parties would be given an opportunity to express their views in future meetings.
These three bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in August 2025. The government states that the purpose of these proposals is not to target any specific individual, but to ensure clarity, accountability, and constitutional decorum in the governance system. According to the government, if an elected representative remains in custody for an extended period, they cannot effectively discharge their constitutional duties. Therefore, clear legal provisions are necessary.
