Overview

• The proposal would force the Prime Minister, chief ministers and all ministers to resign or face automatic removal if they remain in custody for 30 consecutive days for offences carrying at least five years in prison.
• Two related measures seek parallel provisions for Union Territories and Jammu & Kashmir through changes to the Government of Union Territories Act and the J&K Reorganisation Act.
• Both Houses have referred the bills to a Joint Parliamentary Committee that includes opposition members after noisy protests in the Lok Sabha where opposition MPs tore copies of the texts.
• Supporters cast the move as a push to decriminalise politics and prevent governance from jail, frequently citing the prolonged custody of former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal as the trigger.
• Opponents warn of erosion of presumption of innocence and federal balance given central control of investigative agencies, with critics including J&K leaders who decried the plan as a return to colonial rule.