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Union home minister Amit Shah has written to Lok Sabha secretary general Utpal Kumar Singh of his intention to move the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025 as well as the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the ongoing monsoon session of parliament, Ajoy Ashirwad Mahaprashasta reports in a special story.

Contrary to speculation that the Bills would restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir – which the Modi government has promised to do in the Supreme Court – the J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill seeks to allow the lieutenant governor to remove a minister on the chief minister's advice if s/he is arrested or detained for 30 days straight on allegations of committing a crime carrying a prison term of five years or more; it says that a chief minister of J&K too can be removed if detained under these conditions.

To allow such a law to come into effect, Shah's proposed Constitution (130th) Amendment Bill, 2025 gives a similar power to the president and the prime minister to remove chief ministers and their cabinet ministers – broadening the scope far beyond J&K. It also allows for the removal of the prime minister if they are held for 30 days in connection with a crime carrying a prison term of at least five years. Here is the clause the Bill proposes to add to Article 75:

“A Minister, who for any period of thirty consecutive days during holding the office as such, is arrested and detained in custody, on allegation of committing an offence under any law for the time being in force, which is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or more, shall be removed from his office by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister to be tendered by the thirty-first day, after being taken in such custody:

Provided that if the advice of the Prime Minister, for the removal of such Minister is not tendered to the President by the thirty-first day, he shall cease to be a Minister, with effect from the day falling thereafter:

Provided further that in case of the Prime Minister, who for any period of thirty consecutive days during holding the office as such, is arrested and detained in custody, on allegation of committing an offence under any law for the time being in force, which is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or more, shall tender his resignation by the thirty-first day after such arrest and detention, and if he does not tender his resignation, he shall cease to be the Prime Minister with effect from the day falling thereafter…”

Shah also asked the secretary general