Controversial Amendment Bill on Removal of Government Officials Sent to JPC; Opposition Agrees to Join

The 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025, concerning the removal of Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, and ministers arrested and held in custody for serious criminal offenses, is now under review by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Despite initial opposition, the opposition has decided to participate in the JPC to deliberate on the bill. The announcement of the opposition members selected for the JPC is anticipated today. The committee will comprise 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha approved the proposal to send the bills to a joint committee on Thursday. Home Minister Amit Shah proposed the referral of the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Union Territory Governance (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to the JPC. The JPC is expected to present its findings during the winter session of Parliament, which is scheduled to begin in the third week of November.