A 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has been formed to review three bills proposing the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and other ministers if they are detained for 30 days or more on serious criminal charges. The Lok Sabha secretariat officially notified the formation of the committee on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The JPC will be headed by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi.
The bills under scrutiny are the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill. These bills, introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah during the monsoon session, propose the automatic removal of ministers, including the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers, if they are held in judicial custody for 30 consecutive days in cases carrying a punishment of five years or more. Shah has described the bills as a major anti-corruption measure.
However, the JPC has been mired in controversy due to a significant boycott by opposition parties. Major parties, including the Indian National Congress and Trinamool Congress, have refused to participate, arguing that the bills are designed to misuse central agencies, frame non-BJP chief ministers, and destabilize state governments. They also believe that the JPC is a mere formality, given the BJP's majority. Some opposition leaders have called the JPC a "mockery" and a "rubber stamp" for the government's agenda.
Despite the boycott, a few opposition members have joined the committee. These include Supriya Sule and Sunil Dattatreya Tatkare from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP), Asaduddin Owaisi from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Shiromani Akali Dal, and S. Niranjan Reddy from YSR Congress Party. This means that out of the 31 members, only three belong to parties traditionally aligned with the opposition. The committee also includes members from NDA allies, in addition to the BJP's representation.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had previously expressed hope that the opposition would reconsider their boycott and participate in the JPC. He emphasized the importance of discussion and debate in parliamentary processes. However, with major opposition parties staying away, the JPC's composition is heavily skewed towards the ruling coalition.
The JPC has the authority to gather evidence from experts, public bodies, and individuals. After completing its scrutiny, the JPC will submit its report to the Lok Sabha Speaker. The government will then redraft the bills based on the committee's recommendations and table them again in the Lok Sabha. Given that the bills involve constitutional amendments, they will require a two-thirds majority in Parliament to pass.
