The Lok Sabha witnessed uproar on Wednesday after Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced three contentious bills seeking automatic removal of ministers, including the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers, if they remain in custody for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges.

The bills — The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025; The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025 — propose amendments to Articles 75, 164, and 239AA of the Constitution, besides changes to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, and the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.

According to the draft, ministers charged with offences carrying a minimum punishment of five years would automatically lose office if held in judicial custody for 30 days. Shah argued the move was essential to protect “constitutional morality and public trust” and announced that all three bills would be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) of 31 members, which will submit its report by the next session.

The Opposition, however, strongly resisted. AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi called the proposals “destructive to the basic structure of the Constitution”, warning that they hand disproportionate power to investigating agencies. Congress leader Manish Tewari said the bills undermine the presumption of innocence, while party colleague K.C. Venugopal alleged federal overreach. RSP’s M.L. Premchandran questioned the haste behind tabling such “sensitive legislation.”

Despite Shah’s assurance that the JPC will examine all aspects, protests escalated with Opposition MPs shouting slogans and waving placards. Speaker Om Birla, struggling to maintain order, adjourned the House till 3 p.m.