Anti-Corruption Bill: Panel May Tweak Provisions on Automatic Removal of Ministers

NEW DELHI: A parliamentary committee scrutinising the anti-corruption bill, which seeks automatic removal of PM, CMs and ministers if they are in detention for 30 days on serious criminal charges, is likely to adopt its report with certain amendments that may tweak some of its more contentious provisions on July 17, opening the path for govt to push for its passage in Parliament's monsoon session.

With opposition vehemently against the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill alleging that it is aimed at their state govts, it remains to be seen if the BJP-led NDA dispensation at the Centre can pull off the two-thirds majority in Parliament, especially in Lok Sabha, needed to pass the proposed law.

While the committee headed by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi is likely to finalise its report in the coming days, a few MPs are of the view that the panel may reconsider the key provision of linking the removal of top authorities to 30 days of detention and introduce some safeguards, a view conveyed by some law experts and bodies as well in their opinions to the panel.

Sarangi emphasised th-at everybody had appreciated govt's intent to uphold constitutional morality. "Nobody has opposed the main idea of the bill. People have given suggestions and very positive recommendations," she told TOI.

So unbending has been opposition's denunciation of the bill that most of them, including Congress, SP, TMC and DMK, refused to join the joint committee, which generally includes representation from across the board.

Two opposition MPs in the committee are AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi and NCP -SP's Supriya Sule.

Home minister Amit Shah, who had introduced the bill in Aug last year, has vigorously defended the bill, arguing that PM, CMs or ministers cannot be allowed to run their office from jail, a clear reference to former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and V Senthil Balaji, a minister in DMK govt in Tamil Nadu.

The committee has reached out to key opposition parties for responses.

CPI's D Raja has called the bill's proposals highly susceptible to political misuse and arbitrary exercise of power. He has alleged the bill may create a situation that allows executive authorities to destabilise elected govts without any adjudication of guilt by courts.

Opposition members like Owaisi have argued provisions in new criminal laws allow police to seek detention for longer than 30 days, practically ensuring a neta holding office loses his position.