A joint parliamentary committee reviewing the draft law to automatically dismiss ministers, prime ministers and prime ministers detained for more than 30 days decided not to adopt its report, weeks after the draft was circulated to members.
The unusual decision came after a widening gap between members and with the BJP recently reaching out to some opposition parties to support any renewed attempt to push through the Constitution Amendment Bill that failed to get a two-thirds majority earlier this year, according to two leaders who did not want to be named.
With the committee not approving the bill, it is unlikely to be passed during the monsoon period that begins on July 20.
After the meeting, committee chairperson Aparajita Sarangi said the proposals required further discussions.
“We are keeping it on hold for now. We have written two letters to all 27 political parties – one on 13 May 2026 and one on 30 June 2026. Five parties sent their proposals, but refused to join. The government wanted to take everyone with it. We had discussions with members of other parties, and there was broad agreement that the bill would have far-reaching implications for the country. All acknowledged that the government’s intention was right, but felt the proposal required Further discussion and study She added that discussions with the main opposition parties are also continuing.
At the meeting, at least two opposition leaders – All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) president Asaduddin Owaisi and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule made dissenting remarks, leading to arguments. “The situation also led to a vote among members on each of the committee’s proposals,” said an official, who requested anonymity.
According to a third employee, during the voting process, some members of the National Democratic Alliance suggested postponing the adoption of the report due to the need for further discussions.
Sarangi suspended discussions on the items, and after a while announced that the report would not be adopted on Friday.
The Joint Committee is set to recommend a sunset clause – or automatic revocation clause – in the bill to allow ministers to be reappointed in the event of failure to proceed with prosecution within a specified period.
It also stipulated the establishment of a fast-track court for trials under this law, and instead of the word “dismissal” of ministers, it proposed using “suspension,” in an attempt to add guarantees for ministers in the draft law.
