Representational image| Photo: Express
The Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC) examining the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill on Friday deferred the adoption of its draft report, saying further consultations with stakeholders and discussions among members were needed.
Committee chairperson Aparajita Sarangi said the panel agreed that more consultations were required before finalising the report. The decision came after voting had been completed on two recommendations and discussions were underway on the third. Members present said a few ruling party MPs had voted against the first two recommendations, though both were adopted by a majority, The New Indian Express reported.
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, who had submitted dissent notes, withdrew them after the committee decided to postpone the adoption of the report. Most Opposition parties had stayed away from the JPC's proceedings.
The draft report had recommended that the Prime Minister, Union ministers and Chief Ministers be suspended, rather than permanently removed, if they remain detained for 30 consecutive days in cases involving serious criminal offences, pending the outcome of legal proceedings. It also proposed that they be reinstated automatically if acquitted or if the prosecution does not proceed within a specified period.
The panel further suggested defining "serious criminal offences" as offences punishable with imprisonment of five years or more.
Sarangi said the Bill was introduced to curb corruption and prevent the criminalisation of politics, adding that it was a national issue that required broad political consensus.
Introduced in August last year, the Bill proposes the automatic removal of the Prime Minister, ministers or Chief Ministers on the 31st day of their detention if they do not resign voluntarily. Opposition parties have criticised the proposal, alleging it could be used to destabilise governments led by them.