Joint Parliamentary Committee Sees Widespread Support for Decriminalising Politics Legislation
A joint parliamentary committee reports widespread support for the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025. The legislation seeks to enhance accountability by mandating that public officials arrested for major offenses must vacate their posts if bail is not secured within 30 days.
Highlights
- •The JPC reports no opposition to the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, which aims at decriminalising politics.
- •Key stakeholders, including government departments and NGOs, support the bill's focus on public accountability.
- •The legislation proposes that officials arrested for serious crimes must vacate their offices if they do not receive bail within 30 days.
- •The committee has held 11 meetings across multiple states to gather diverse recommendations on the proposed amendments.
The legislative effort aimed at decriminalising politics has reached a significant milestone, with a joint parliamentary panel reporting broad consensus among various stakeholders. The committee, which is tasked with reviewing the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, has not encountered any formal opposition regarding the core objectives of the proposed legal reforms, according to its chairperson and BJP Member of Parliament, Aparajita Sarangi.
This development follows a recent consultative session held at the Delhi Secretariat. The gathering included high-profile participants such as Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, alongside representatives from critical government bodies, including the law and home departments. Additionally, the National Human Rights Commission, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, and the non-governmental organization Common Cause provided their inputs to the 30-member committee.
Strengthening Accountability in Public Life
Following the assembly, Aparajita Sarangi emphasized that stakeholders were unified in their support for the legislation's underlying purpose. The committee, which has conducted 11 meetings to date, has broadened its outreach by visiting nine states and Union Territories, including Rajasthan, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Punjab. Notably, even regions governed by parties outside the NDA coalition have expressed support for the general spirit of the Bill, while contributing constructive suggestions for potential adjustments.
The overarching goal of this legislative framework, which includes the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, as well as the J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is to foster greater accountability. The primary focus involves preventing governmental functions from being conducted from behind bars and ensuring that public figures maintain high standards of integrity.
A pivotal clause within the constitutional amendment proposes that senior officials—specifically the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Union ministers, or state ministers—would be required to step down from their positions if they are arrested for an offense punishable by five years or more and fail to secure bail within a 30-day window.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta highlighted that the measure is a vital step toward reinforcing public trust and constitutional morality. As the committee continues its deliberations, the recommendations gathered from these consultations are expected to be instrumental in shaping the final legislation, with the shared aim of strengthening the nation's democratic institutions.
