House panel on Bills for removal of jailed ministers set up, Pg8.

Key Highlights:

• A 31-member Joint Committee of Parliament has been formed to examine Bills proposing the removal of ministers, including the Prime Minister, if jailed for 30 days in serious criminal cases.
• The committee was approved by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament.
• 26 members of the committee are from the BJP or its NDA allies.
• The panel will be chaired by BJP Lok Sabha MP Aparajita Sarangi.
• The committee will examine The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, and The Government Of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill.

Detailed Insights:

• The Bills propose amending Article 75 of the Constitution, concerning the appointment and responsibilities of the Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, and extend to Union Territories and Jammu & Kashmir.
• According to The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, a minister detained for 30 days for an offense punishable by imprisonment of five years or more shall be removed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
• The Opposition has voiced concerns that these Bills could be used to destabilize governments in non-BJP/NDA states, citing examples like the arrests of Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren.
• Former Lok Sabha secretary general P D T Achary noted that the absence of key Opposition parties could undermine the committee's credibility, potentially rendering it an NDA panel rather than a truly parliamentary one.
• Despite being part of the INDIA bloc, the NCP (SP) has chosen to participate in the committee, viewing it as an opportunity to present their views on the matter, even while opposing the Bills.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Article 75: Deals with the appointment, tenure, responsibilities, qualifications, and salaries and allowances of the ministers.
• Joint Committee of Parliament: A committee with members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, formed to deliberate on specific issues or bills.
• Council of Ministers: The body of ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, that aids and advises the President in the exercise of their functions.