Overview
- The draft amendment would remove a Prime Minister, Chief Minister or any minister who remains under arrest or detention for 30 consecutive days in cases carrying a potential sentence of five years or more.
- Four legal experts from the Law Commission, National Law University Delhi and NALSAR supported the objective in principle and were asked to submit detailed written opinions.
- Members pressed whether the statutory office of the Leader of the Opposition would be covered if the incumbent fails to secure bail within 30 days of arrest in serious criminal cases.
- Lawmakers flagged unresolved questions including the definition of “heinous crime,” treatment of habitual offenders, and a mismatch in which ministers could lose office while MPs or MLAs might retain membership.
- The committee set its next meeting for January 22 and indicated plans for wider consultations, while a boycott by Congress, Trinamool, Samajwadi Party, DMK, Shiv Sena (UBT) and AAP leaves only four opposition members on the 31-member panel.