JPC likely to retain 130th Amendment clause on removal of Ministers after 30 days in custody

📌 Summary:

• The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill is likely to recommend no change to its clause proposing removal of the PM, Chief Ministers or other Ministers if arrested and detained in custody for 30 consecutive days for serious offences
• The JPC has held 10 rounds of meetings since December 2025; the draft report is expected to be circulated by July 10 and finalised at a July 17 meeting, ahead of the Monsoon Session beginning July 20
• Most INDIA bloc members boycotted the JPC, arguing that the ruling alliance's majority in the 31-member panel (headed by BJP MP Aprajita Sarangi) meant their views would not be accommodated
• Significance: raises questions on presumption of innocence, federalism (removal of elected CMs), and potential misuse of investigative agencies against Opposition governments

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 (Polity – Parliament, constitutional amendment, executive accountability) — tension between probity in public office and due-process safeguards.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• A Joint Parliamentary Committee is an ad-hoc committee of both Houses set up for a specific purpose
• Constitution Amendment Bills are governed by Article 368
• The 31-member JPC is headed by BJP MP Aprajita Sarangi; Monsoon Session to begin July 20, 2026

🔑 Key Term: Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) — an ad-hoc parliamentary committee constituted with members from both Houses to examine a specific bill or matter and report to Parliament.