New Legislation Proposed: Mandatory Resignation for High-Ranking Officials Facing Criminal Charges

The government is advancing a bill designed to enhance political accountability. This bill will be presented in Parliament on Wednesday and will enforce mandatory resignations from the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, and Ministers of Union Territories if they are arrested or detained on serious criminal charges. The proposed law stipulates that any public representative held in custody for 30 continuous days must resign by the 31st day; otherwise, they will be automatically removed. This bill intends to strengthen existing constitutional provisions, which currently only allow for removal after a conviction. The legislation will focus on crimes carrying a minimum sentence of five years. These include serious crimes such as murder and major corruption. The bill is part of a package of three major proposals, alongside the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025. These proposals are likely to be sent to a parliamentary committee for thorough review. Home Minister Amit Shah will introduce the bill in the Lok Sabha. The legislation includes proposed amendments to Articles 75, 164 and 239AA of the Constitution. These articles govern the appointment and responsibilities of ministers at the central, state, and union territory levels.