· Automatic Removal of Ministers in Custody
o If a minister in Jammu and Kashmir is arrested and detained for 30 consecutive days on allegations of an offence punishable with five years or more of imprisonment, he or she must be removed from office.
o The Lieutenant Governor (LG) will remove the minister on the Chief Minister’s advice.
o If the Chief Minister fails to act, the minister will automatically cease to hold office from the 31st day.
· Special Provision for the Chief Minister
o If the Chief Minister is arrested and detained for 30 days on similar charges, he or she must resign by the 31st day.
o If no resignation is given, the Chief Minister will automatically lose office from the next day.
· Scope for Reappointment
o The Bill allows that a minister or Chief Minister removed under this provision may be reappointed after release from custody, subject to the LG’s approval.
· Why This Law is Being Proposed
o The government argues that ministers must uphold high standards of conduct and remain free of suspicion.
o Currently, the 2019 Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act has no provision for removing a Chief Minister or minister detained on serious criminal charges.
o The amendment seeks to plug this gap to protect constitutional morality, good governance, and public trust.
· Political and Governance Implications
o The move could have direct consequences for stability in Jammu and Kashmir’s government if senior leaders face arrest in politically charged circumstances.
o It gives the Lieutenant Governor an important role in implementing removals, with limited scope for political delay.
o Observers see it as a tool for political control, while supporters may frame it as a step toward clean governance.
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