India parliamentary panel to adopt report on bills for ministers arrested on criminal charges

A Lok Sabha parliamentary panel chaired by BJP member Aparajita Sarangi is expected to adopt its report on July 17 on proposed bills linked to ministers arrested on criminal charges. Sources say the report could be tabled during Parliament’s Monsoon session from July 20, with possible Union Cabinet clearance beforehand.

A Joint Committee of Parliament is expected to finalise its report on three bills that set removal rules for top ministers facing serious criminal cases. Sources said the panel may adopt the report on July 17. The report is likely to be placed in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session. The session is expected to begin on July 20.

Sources said the government could also seek Union Cabinet approval for the draft laws before introducing them. The committee is examining the Constitution 130th Amendment Bill, the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Amendment Bill, and the Government of Union Territories Amendment Bill. The panel’s next meeting is scheduled for July 17, when the reports may be adopted.

Parliamentary panel report on decriminalisation of politics Bills

The committee is chaired by BJP member Aparajita Sarangi. The panel held consultations with constitutional experts and retired judges. It also heard lawyers, bar association members, government officials, and political leaders. Sarangi had earlier said the panel meetings showed unanimity on the need for decriminalisation of politics.

Several opposition parties did not take part in the committee’s work. They argued the bills conflict with the principle that a person is presumed innocent. They also objected to removal based on detention and bail timelines. The opposition further claimed the measures could be used to target non-NDA states.

Parliamentary panel and proposed 30-day custody rule in Bills

The three bills state that removal would follow a custody period of 30 consecutive days. The rule would apply to the prime minister, Union ministers, and chief ministers. It would cover offences that carry a minimum jail term of five years. Under the proposal, the office-holder would lose the post on the 31st day.

Only three opposition leaders are part of the 31-member committee, which is dominated by the BJP and allies. They are NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi and YSRCP leader S Niranjan Reddy. Others from opposition parties are not on the panel or stayed away, sources said.

Lok Sabha debate on Bills and opposition objections in Parliament

Union minister Amit Shah introduced the three bills in the Lok Sabha in August last year. The move triggered strong protests from opposition MPs. After the protests, the draft laws were sent to a Joint Committee of Parliament for scrutiny. The committee has since worked on reports for each proposed law.

Opposing the bills when they were introduced, Owaisi said the Constitution was being amended to destabilise governments. Congress leader Manish Tewari also objected to the approach and its legal basis. "This Bill is against the jurisprudence of criminal justice and distorts parliamentary democracy. The Bill opens the door for political misuse and throws all constitutional safeguards to the winds, he had said.\"

RSP MP N K Premchandran had raised concerns about the speed of the process. Premchandran said that the Bills were being introduced in undue haste. Opposition parties have said the removal trigger could lead to automatic sacking. They have linked this to cases where bail is not granted within a month.

Government of Union Territories Amendment Bill and Section 45 change

The Government of Union Territories Amendment Bill points to a gap in the current law. It says the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 20 of 1963 lacks a removal provision in such cases. It states a change is needed for ministers arrested and detained on serious criminal charges. The bill proposes amending Section 45 to create a legal framework.

Sources said the committee’s report is expected to be tabled in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session. Any Cabinet clearance could happen before the bills are introduced in Parliament. The panel’s work covers the three linked bills and related constitutional issues. The outcome will depend on action after the report is adopted on July 17.

With inputs from PTI