Amit Shah to Introduce Constitution Amendment and J&K Reorganisation Amendment Bill 2025 in Lok Sabha

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to introduce three important bills in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, including the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Amendment Bill 2025. These proposals are part of a revised agenda published late Tuesday evening, which also lists the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.

The government is expected to refer all three bills to a Joint Committee of Parliament for further examination. However, opposition parties have criticized the move, accusing the government of attempting to shift attention from their ongoing protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Amendment Bill 2025 – Objective and Key Changes

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Amendment Bill 2025 seeks to amend Section 54 of the 2019 act to allow the removal of the Chief Minister or a Minister in the Union Territory if they are arrested and remain in custody for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons notes that elected representatives are expected to uphold constitutional morality and act in the public interest. It argues that a minister in custody on grave charges may weaken good governance and erode public trust.

Automatic Removal After 30 Days in Custody

As per the amendment, if a minister is detained for an offence carrying a potential imprisonment of five years or more, the Lieutenant Governor may remove the minister on the advice of the Chief Minister. If such advice is not provided by the 31st day, the minister will automatically cease to hold office.
In the case of a Chief Minister, the provision requires resignation on or before the 31st day of continuous detention. Failure to resign will result in automatic termination of the post. The bill also clarifies that a chief minister or minister can be reappointed after release from custody.

Political Response

Opposition leaders have sharply criticised the government’s move. Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi described the proposal as a way to destabilize state governments by targeting opposition leaders through arrests by central agencies. Other leaders, including the Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi and TMC’s Derek O’Brien, accused the government of diverting attention from political issues such as Rahul Gandhi’s Vote Adhikar Yatra and the SIR controversy in Bihar.

Legislative Outlook

Despite the criticism, the government appears determined to move forward with the amendments. The tabling of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Amendment Bill 2025 alongside constitutional changes demonstrates the Centre’s focus on tightening accountability standards for public office holders. The Monsoon Session is likely to see intense debate as the Opposition prepares to challenge the move on the floor of the House.

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