Govt to move bills on ministerial removal amid accountability debates; no J&K statehood plan confirmed. Photo/X.
The central government is set to move three significant bills in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, August 20, aimed at codifying legal procedures for the removal of the prime minister, union ministers, chief ministers, and other ministers in states and Union Territories if they face serious criminal charges, according to the text of the bills NewsX has accessed.
Contrary to the speculations, there is currently no confirmed plan to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, according to thereports.
A list of government business shared by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs with the Lok Sabha Secretariat for August 20 includes:
The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025
Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025
The bills, including the constitutional amendment, reportedly seek to establish that if the prime minister, any union minister, chief minister, or a minister in a state or Union Territory is arrested and kept in custody for 30 consecutive days for an alleged offence punishable with imprisonment of at least five years, they must resign by the 31st day or face automatic removal.
The three amendments aim to mandate the removal of arrested and detained political leaders to safeguard constitutional morality.
After introduction, a motion will be considered to refer the three governance-related bills to a joint committee of both Houses for detailed scrutiny.
The legislative agenda also includes a special discussion on India’s space programme and its contribution to achieving “Viksit Bharat by 2047.” Any unfinished business from Wednesday will carry over to Thursday, August 21.
The move comes amid ongoing debates on political accountability, particularly in the wake of high-profile cases such as the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case, where leaders have continued to hold office despite prolonged detention.
The Statements of Objects and Reasons across these bills emphasize that elected representatives must demonstrate unimpeachable character. They argue that detention on serious charges could erode public trust and hinder good governance. As the documents state:
“A Minister facing allegation of serious criminal offences… may thwart or hinder the canons of constitutional morality.”
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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