Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025 Introduced in Lok Sabha
New Delhi, August 19, 2025 – The Central Government has introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha, seeking to bring key changes to the 2019 Act. The amendment aims to ensure accountability and integrity among elected representatives in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in cases involving serious criminal charges.
According to the bill, if any Minister in J&K is arrested and detained for 30 consecutive days on charges punishable with five years or more of imprisonment, the Lieutenant Governor will remove them from office upon the advice of the Chief Minister. Similarly, if the Chief Minister is detained under such charges, he or she must tender resignation within 31 days, failing which the office will automatically fall vacant. However, the law also allows such individuals to be reappointed once released from custody.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who introduced the bill, said the legislation seeks to strengthen constitutional morality and good governance. “The character and conduct of ministers should be above suspicion. When leaders face serious criminal allegations, it diminishes the trust reposed by people and hampers governance,” the statement of objects and reasons noted.
The government argues that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, lacked provisions to deal with such situations, and this amendment provides the much-needed legal framework. The move is seen as a step to ensure transparency, accountability, and public trust in governance in the Union Territory.