Parliamentary Committee Recommends Changes to Amendment Bill on Public Officials
A Joint Parliamentary Committee has proposed amendments to the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, suggesting that public officials should face 'suspension' instead of automatic 'removal' after 30 days in custody. The committee's recommendations include defining 'serious criminal offences' as those punishable by five years or more and introducing fast-track courts for cases involving high officials. Stakeholders expressed concerns that the Bill's trigger mechanism was constitutionally problematic, as it linked custody to disqualification without a judicial finding of guilt. The committee noted disagreements mainly focused on the Bill's design rather than its objectives. Additionally, concerns were raised about the five-year threshold for qualifying offences, which some argued was inconsistent with other laws. The panel did not recommend raising this threshold but suggested a separate schedule for relevant offences.
Published 1 day ago • 10 Jul 2026, 10:01 PM IST