Once the report is adopted and tabled, the Constitution amendment can be introduced in Parliament, making it one of the key legislative priorities of the session
The government appears set to move the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2025, in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, with the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) scheduling a crucial meeting on July 17 to finalise and adopt its draft report.Once the report is adopted and tabled, the Constitution amendment can be introduced in Parliament, making it one of the key legislative priorities of the session expected to begin around July 20.Beyond the substance of the proposed law, the exercise is being closely watched within government as the first significant test of its ability to marshal the special two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments. The outcome is expected to provide an indication of the government’s preparedness to take up the politically-sensitive Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 which sought to redistribute Lok Sabha seats on the basis of the 2011 census to expedite the implementation of women’s reservation.Securing supportIn the intervening period between the monsoon and the budget session, the BJP-led NDA has expanded its strength by engineering defections and securing the support of legislators from several opposition parties, with the aim of strengthening its numbers for major constitutional legislation.The 130th Constitution Amendment Bill seeks to bar a Prime Minister, Union Minister, Chief Minister or a State Minister from continuing in office if they remain under arrest or judicial detention for 30 consecutive days in connection with serious criminal offences.The proposal has drawn from the controversy surrounding former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who continued in office after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi excise policy case in March 2024.Sources said the JPC has broadly endorsed the government’s objective of preventing governance from jail. At the July 17 meeting, members from NDA parties are expected to give their final views before the committee adopts its report. The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference and the CPI have already submitted written suggestions.The government is also expected to move the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, both based on recommendations of the same JPC. Other measures on the government’s legislative agenda include amendments to corporate laws.Published on July 1, 2026
