Context:
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Parliament has constituted a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to examine three Bills that seek to remove Ministers facing serious criminal charges.
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The committee was formed after the Lok Sabha referred the Bills following their introduction by Amit Shah during the Monsoon Session on August 20.
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The move has triggered political controversy, with the INDIA bloc boycotting the panel.
Key Highlights:
Composition & Leadership of the Committee
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The 31-member JPC is chaired by Aparajita Sarangi.
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Despite the boycott, some Opposition leaders have joined:
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Supriya Sule
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Asaduddin Owaisi
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S. Niranjan Reddy
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Harsimrat Kaur Badal
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Nature of the Bills Under Review
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Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025
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Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025
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Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025
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The Bills propose mechanisms to bar or remove Ministers (Union and State level), including:
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Prime Minister
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Chief Ministers
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Trigger condition: Serious criminal charges, beyond mere allegations.
Opposition’s Stand
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The INDIA bloc has boycotted the committee, alleging:
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Malafide intent
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Lack of impartiality due to BJP’s numerical dominance
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Opposition has drawn parallels with:
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The 1987 Bofors JPC, which was also boycotted by major Opposition parties.
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Governance & Constitutional Questions
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Raises critical issues:
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Balance between presumption of innocence and ethical governance
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Scope of legislative oversight over executive appointments
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Potential implications for:
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Collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers
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Separation of powers between legislature and executive
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Political & Institutional Significance
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Reflects increasing debate on:
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Criminalisation of politics
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Institutional mechanisms to ensure probity in public life
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Committee findings may shape:
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Future constitutional and statutory standards for ministerial conduct
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Key Concepts Involved:
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Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC): Ad hoc parliamentary body constituted to examine specific legislative or policy issues.
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Criminalisation of Politics: Participation of individuals with criminal cases in political office.
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Bill: Draft legislation placed before Parliament for debate and enactment.
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Collective Responsibility: Principle that the Council of Ministers is collectively accountable to the legislature.
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
GS 2 – Polity
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Parliamentary committees and legislative scrutiny
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Constitutional amendments and executive accountability
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Criminalisation of politics
GS 2 – Governance
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Ethics in public office
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Transparency and institutional checks
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Role of Parliament in ensuring probity
Prelims Focus:
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Types and roles of Parliamentary Committees
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Difference between JPC and Standing Committees
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Scope of constitutional amendments relating to executive offices
Mains Enrichment:
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Critically analyse whether legislative disqualification of Ministers facing criminal charges strengthens ethical governance or risks undermining due process.
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Discuss the effectiveness of parliamentary committees in addressing criminalisation of politics.