130th Constitution Amendment Bill: clause removing ministers detained 30 days likely retained

📌 Summary:

• The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill is expected to adopt its report on 17 July; the Bill will be taken up in the Monsoon Session (likely from 20 July)
• Core provision: automatic removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers or other ministers from office if arrested and detained in custody for 30 consecutive days for serious offences (punishable with 5+ years imprisonment); removal directed by the President/Governor on the advice of the PM/CM
• The report is likely to retain the contentious clause but add notes of caution to prevent misuse for political vendetta, and may recommend a threshold on the nature of crime
• Introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah (August last year); 31-member panel chaired by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi
• Opposition arguments: the provisions are undemocratic, anti-federal, and violate natural justice by punishing based on custody rather than conviction; most INDIA-bloc members boycotted proceedings, calling the panel a "rubber stamp"; opposition MPs likely to file a dissent note
• Treasury benches counter: 30 days allow at least three bail attempts, so natural justice is not violated
• Panel members across sides agree safeguards against misuse should be added

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 (Constitution amendment process, executive accountability, federalism, separation of powers, natural justice, role of parliamentary committees).

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025 - removal of PM/CM/ministers detained 30 consecutive days for offences punishable with 5+ years
• Introduced by Amit Shah; JPC chaired by Aparajita Sarangi (31 members)
• JPC report expected 17 July; Monsoon Session likely from 20 July
• Removal directed by President/Governor on advice of PM/CM

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