New Delhi: In a significant step towards constitutional reforms, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) convened its inaugural consultative meeting on Wednesday, deliberating on three pivotal bills, including the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, which mandates the resignation of the Prime Minister or a Chief Minister if imprisoned for over 30 consecutive days.
The three-hour session saw four eminent legal experts — former Supreme Court Judge Dinesh Maheshwari, Law Commission officials, and vice-chancellors from premier law universities — presenting their views. While broadly endorsing the bills’ intent, they flagged certain provisions for clarification, prompting the JPC to seek detailed written submissions.
A standout clause in the 130th Amendment Bill stipulates automatic office vacation from the 31st day of incarceration if no voluntary resignation is tendered. JPC Chairperson Aparajita Sarangi defended the measures, asserting that governing from jail undermines democratic sanctity, and reiterated the government’s commitment to legal boundaries.
The meeting also covered the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Union Territory Government (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The meeting positively noted an Opposition member’s plea to invite non-participating parties for inputs and consideration.
The JPC, consisting of 31 members, has scheduled its next meeting for January 22. Amid boycotts by some Opposition parties, the deliberations underscore efforts to fortify governance norms, balancing accountability with constitutional safeguards in India’s evolving political landscape.
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