“The Centre has introduced three controversial bills seeking automatic removal of PMs, CMs, and ministers after 30 days in custody. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the provisions, government’s justification, opposition concerns, and what comes next.”
The Indian political landscape is buzzing after the Centre introduced three controversial bills in Parliament on August 20, 2025. These bills aim to bring stricter accountability for Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, and ministers facing serious criminal charges. While the government is calling it a landmark move against the criminalisation of politics, the opposition has slammed it as draconian and unconstitutional.
In this post, we’ll break down the key provisions, government’s justification, opposition’s concerns, and the next stepsfor these bills.
What Are the Three Bills About?
1. Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025
This amendment proposes that the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, and State Ministers must vacate office automatically if they are arrested and held in custody for 30 consecutive days on serious charges punishable by at least five years. This applies even without a conviction.
The bill amends Articles 75, 164, and 239AA, effectively extending the rule to the Union, States, and even Delhi’s administration.
2. Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025
This extends the same “30-day rule” for ministers serving in Union Territories, ensuring uniformity across governance structures.
3. Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025
This bill applies the same rule to ministers in Jammu & Kashmir, aligning its governance with other Union Territories after its reorganization.
Why Is the Government Pushing This?
The Centre argues the bills are essential to:
Curb criminalisation of politics by preventing leaders with serious criminal cases from holding power.
Align ministers with civil servants, who are suspended immediately if arrested.
Close loopholes in the Representation of the People Act, which currently disqualifies leaders only after conviction.
Home Minister Amit Shah described this as a bold reform to restore integrity, transparency, and trust in public office.
Why Is the Opposition Against It?
Opposition parties have strongly criticized the bills, saying they:
Violate the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” by treating detention as equivalent to guilt.
Could be misused for political vendetta, where ruling governments arrest opposition leaders to unseat them.
Destabilize elected governments, since even temporary detention for protests or political cases could lead to removals.
Leaders have pointed to recent cases like Arvind Kejriwal’s six-month jail term, which would have triggered automatic removal under this law.
Current Status in Parliament
The bills have been tabled in Lok Sabha and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny. Opposition protests have already led to disruptions in Parliament, with MPs tearing papers and walking out during discussions.
Key Takeaways
These bills could reshape Indian politics by setting a new precedent for accountability.
The government sees this as a landmark reform, while the opposition views it as a threat to democracy.
With a JPC review ahead, the debate around these bills is expected to intensify in the coming months.