NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to introduce three significant bills in the Lok Sabha on August 20, 2025, aimed at enforcing the resignation or removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and ministers across the Centre, states, and Union Territories if they remain in custody for 30 consecutive days on charges carrying a minimum five-year imprisonment. The bills, introduced just before the Monsoon session concludes, have sparked surprise in political circles due to their timing and implications.
The proposed legislation includes the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, which mandates that the Prime Minister must resign by the 31st day of detention or face automatic removal. Similar provisions apply to Chief Ministers and ministers in states and Union Territories, covered by the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Union ministers would be removed by the President on the Prime Minister’s advice, while state or UT ministers would be dismissed by the governor on the Chief Minister’s recommendation.
Notably, the bills allow individuals to be reappointed to their positions after release from custody. The legislation aims to address a gap in current laws, which only disqualify elected representatives upon conviction with a sentence of two years or more under the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951. The bills may be referred to a parliamentary panel for further scrutiny.
The move follows instances like former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s refusal to resign during his months-long detention in a liquor policy case, stepping down only after securing bail.
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