Panel Seeks Nationwide Legal Views on Key Bills

Mumbai, April 2026 : Aparajita Sarangi, Chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), said that the panel has begun a comprehensive consultation process to gather opinions from various states and legal experts on key legislative proposals, including the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Sarangi stated that the JPC is currently on a two-day study visit to Maharashtra (April 27–28) to seek feedback from stakeholders on three important bills: the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Union Territories Governance (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

She noted that these bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 20, 2025, and were later referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on November 12, 2025, for detailed examination and reporting. The committee comprises 31 members, including 21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.

Sarangi said the committee has already conducted nine meetings, interacting with representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Law Commission, national law universities, legal research institutions, and state governments such as Rajasthan, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh.

As part of its broader outreach, the committee has decided to hold consultations outside Delhi to ensure inclusive discussions on constitutional and governance matters. During its Maharashtra visit, the panel held meetings with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, senior officials from the Home and Law departments, judicial institutions, and legal organisations.

She added that the committee will continue its consultations in other states, with the next visit scheduled in Bhubaneswar on April 29, where it will interact with the Odisha government and local institutions.

Highlighting the key objective of the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, Sarangi said it proposes amendments to Articles 75, 164, and 239AA of the Constitution. The aim is to ensure that individuals holding high constitutional offices are barred from exercising executive powers if they remain in custody for 30 consecutive days in connection with serious criminal charges.

The committee reiterated its commitment to fostering an inclusive and thorough debate on these significant constitutional matters. Sarangi expressed confidence that inputs from various stakeholders would help strengthen democratic institutions while safeguarding constitutional values.

She also stated that all suggestions received during consultations will be carefully considered before the committee submits its final report, which will be presented in Parliament through the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.