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The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025 held its first meeting on Thursday. The sitting marked the beginning of a contentious legislative debate, with Opposition members questioning both the intent and possible implications of the proposed changes, while the committee decided on extensive consultations with stakeholders across India. Objective of the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2025 The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20, 2025. The Bill proposes that the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or ministers facing corruption or serious offence charges must be removed from office if they are detained for 30 consecutive days. The same rule would apply to the heads of Union Territories—Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, and Puducherry—through two corresponding bills. The central idea is to ensure that individuals holding the highest executive a...

The Supreme Court of India has once again turned its attention to the contentious issue of reservation in Maharashtra’s local bodies. During a hearing on a contempt petition, the Court directed the State to provide a complete list of all local bodies where the total reservation—covering Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC)—exceeds the 50% constitutional ceiling. This order comes amid preparations for upcoming elections and ongoing disputes about the implementation of the Court’s earlier directions, particularly the 2021 “triple test” requirement. Background: Contempt Petition and the 2021 Triple Test Judgment The current proceedings arise from a contempt petition alleging that Maharashtra failed to comply with the Supreme Court’s 2021 ruling. That judgment mandated that any OBC reservation in local bodies must satisfy a three-step test , now widely known as the "triple test": Establish a dedicated commission to conduct a conte...

In a significant move to strengthen political accountability, the Supreme Court of India has sought a response from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a plea demanding stricter compliance by political parties with existing disclosure laws. The plea calls for political parties to make public their rules, establishment documents, and details of financial contributions as mandated under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 . Background of the Petition The matter was heard by a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, and Justice Joymalya Bagchi , which issued a notice to the ECI on Monday. The bench acted upon an application filed by Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay , a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and lawyer , in his pending Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The application was filed in the context of increasing instances where political parties have been allegedly misused for money laundering and tax evasion , leading to calls for greater transparency ...

Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mohammad Azam Khan , 77, was released from Sitapur Jail on Tuesday after nearly 23 months of incarceration . His release comes after securing bail from the Allahabad High Court in the Quality Bar land encroachment case of Rampur . A Delayed but Celebrated Release Although Khan was expected to walk out by 7 a.m., his release was delayed due to procedural issues, and he finally stepped out at around 12:20 p.m. His son Adeeb Khan , SP MP Ruchi Vira , and hundreds of supporters greeted him outside the jail. His return has boosted the morale of party workers and sparked fresh debates on his political future . SP Denies Rumors of Defection In the wake of speculation that Khan might join the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) , SP leader Shivpal Yadav dismissed such claims as “baseless.” He emphasized that: The Samajwadi Party stands firmly with Azam Khan. Khan had been “falsely implicated” in multiple cases and was a victim of political vendet...

The Supreme Court of India is currently deliberating a significant constitutional question: whether it can prescribe fixed timelines for Governors and the President to act on state bills, despite the Constitution’s explicit language requiring them to act only “as soon as possible.” Background: The Presidential Reference under Article 143 The issue stems from an April 8 ruling by a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court that imposed deadlines — three months for the President to decide on bills and one month for governors to act on re-enacted bills. The judgment sparked intense debate, leading to a Presidential Reference under Article 143 . The reference, sent by President Droupadi Murmu in May, places 14 questions before the Court, including whether judicially crafting procedural rules where the Constitution is silent amounts to rewriting constitutional provisions . The matter is being heard by a five-judge constitution bench led by Chief Justice Bhushan R. Gavai , with Justic...

Enforcement Directorate Raids Bhilai Residence of Chaitanya Baghel In a significant development in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday, July 18 , conducted searches at the Bhilai residence of Chaitanya Baghel , son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel . The raids were carried out in connection with alleged money laundering and irregularities linked to a multi-crore liquor scam in the state. According to ED sources, the operation was part of a broader probe to unearth the financial trail of illegal commissions and the alleged misuse of foreign and domestic funding routed through shell entities. Political Reactions: Bhupesh Baghel’s Office and Congress Respond Responding to the raid, Bhupesh Baghel’s office issued a statement on social media platform X, noting the timing of the action: “ED has arrived. Today is the last day of the Assembly session. The issue of trees being cut in Tamnar for Adani was supposed to be raise...

  Waqf Amendment Bill to be Introduced in Parliament Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that the Waqf Amendment Bill will be tabled in the ongoing Budget session of Parliament following the submission of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report . He reassured that the bill aims to align Waqf-related laws with constitutional principles and will not be implemented retrospectively . The bill is expected to address concerns regarding land ownership and Waqf property regulations , particularly in cases where prime properties were declared as Waqf land without legal recourse . Amit Shah cited the example of 123 prime properties in Delhi , including the Chandra Shekhar Azad Garden in Prayagraj , which was declared as Waqf land. Delimitation: BJP’s Assurance of No Injustice Responding to concerns about delimitation , Amit Shah stated that the BJP remains committed to ensuring fairness and justice during the process. He emphasized that delimitation will not result in any...

Governor in India: Powers, Functions, and Constitutional Provisions Who is a Governor? A Governor is the constitutional head of a state in India, functioning as the executive authority at the state level. The Governor represents the President of India and acts as a link between the state and the central government . Appointment and Tenure of the Governor 🔹 Article 153-162 of the Indian Constitution lays down the provisions related to the office of the Governor. 🔹 Appointed by the President of India under Article 155 . 🔹 Holds office for a term of 5 years , but serves at the pleasure of the President under Article 156 . 🔹 There is no fixed retirement age for a Governor. Powers and Functions of a Governor 1️⃣ Executive Powers (Article 154, 162, 166, 167) ✅ Head of the State Executive but acts on the aid and advice of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers . ✅ Appoints the Chief Minister , Ministers, Advocate General, and State Election Commissioner. ✅ Admi...

Supreme Court to Hear Petitions Against Election Commissioners’ Appointment Law Introduction: A Landmark Hearing on Electoral Independence The Supreme Court of India is set to hear multiple petitions on Wednesday, challenging the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 . The primary contention is that this Act excludes the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the selection panel , raising concerns about the independence and neutrality of the Election Commission. Background: What Does the 2023 Act Change? The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023 has replaced the earlier selection process that involved a panel comprising: ✅ Prime Minister ✅ Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha ✅ Chief Justice of India (as mandated by the Supreme Court in March 2023) Under the new law, the CJI has been removed , and a Union Cabinet Minister (nominated by the Prime Ministe...

SC Issues Notice to Centre, Election Commission on Plea  Seeking to Declare Freebies as Bribes In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the Central Government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a petition seeking to declare pre-election promises of freebies as bribes  under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. This move brings renewed focus on the longstanding debate surrounding the practice of offering freebies by political parties in the run-up to elections. Petition Highlights Concerns Over Freebies The petition, filed by Shashank J Shreedhara , a Karnataka resident, urges the apex court to take action against political parties that promise freebies during election campaigns. The plea seeks a directive for the Election Commission to prohibit such practices, which the petitioner argues undermine the integrity of the electoral process by influencing voters with short-term personal benefits rather than focusing o...

Government to Introduce Waqf Amendment Bill in  Lok Sabha on Thursday The BJP-led government is set to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. This bill aims to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, addressing key issues related to State Waqf Boards, property registration, and encroachments. The introduction is accompanied by the withdrawal of two previous legislative measures: the Waqf Properties (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Bill, 2014, and the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923.  Withdrawal of Previous Bills Waqf Properties (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Bill, 2014 Originally introduced in February 2014 by the Congress-led UPA government, this bill aimed to address the issue of unauthorized occupants of waqf properties. The decision to withdraw it comes in light of the new amendment bill, which seeks to handle these concerns more effectively through updated provisions and administrative measures. Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923    The Mussalman Wak...

Hardeep Singh Puri to Introduce Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 in Rajya Sabha Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri is scheduled to introduce the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 in the Rajya Sabha today. This bill seeks to amend the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, which governs the regulation and development of oilfields in India. What is a Bill? A bill is a proposed piece of legislation presented for debate and approval in Parliament. It must pass through several stages of scrutiny and debate before it can become law. Once approved by both houses of Parliament and receives the President’s assent, it is enacted as a law. The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 aims to update and amend provisions of the existing Act to address current needs and challenges in the oil and gas sector. From Bill to Act The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, originally e...

Opposition and BJP Spar Over Order Allowing Govt  Employees to Participate in RSS Activities A recent order issued by the Ministry of Personnel permitting government servants to participate in activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has sparked a heated exchange between the opposition parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP's Stance BJP leader Amit Malviya announced on Monday that the central government has withdrawn a 58-year-old "unconstitutional order" that had banned government employees from taking part in RSS activities. He referred to the original ban, implemented in 1966, which was imposed following a massive anti-cow-slaughter protest at the Parliament, mobilized by RSS-Jana Sangh. "The unconstitutional order issued 58 years ago, in 1966, imposing a ban on government employees taking part in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been withdrawn by the Modi government. The original order shouldn't have been passed in t...

BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab Takes Oath as Pro-Tem Speaker Seven-time MP Bhartruhari Mahtab was sworn in as the pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha on Monday. The oath was administered by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marking the commencement of the 18th Lok Sabha's first session, which will begin with the oath-taking of the new MPs. Understanding the Role of a Pro-Tem Speaker A pro-tem Speaker, or temporary Speaker, is appointed for the initial meetings of the newly elected Lok Sabha, particularly to preside over the first sitting of the House, administer the oath to new members, and oversee the election of the new Speaker. This position is critical in ensuring that the newly elected House starts functioning smoothly. Constitutional Provision The role of the pro-tem Speaker is not explicitly defined in the Indian Constitution but is derived from parliamentary conventions and practices. Article 94 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Speaker and Deputy Speaker...

Delhi Excise Policy PMLA Case: Rs 100 Crore Bribe  Allegation and Bail Plea The controversy surrounding the Delhi Excise Policy continues to deepen as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposes the bail plea of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The ED has alleged a demand for a Rs 100 crore bribe, asserting the involvement of Kejriwal in money laundering activities. Bribe Demand and Money Laundering:    The ED has established that a significant amount of money, totaling Rs 100 crore, was demanded as a bribe. This money, according to the ED, was funneled through hawala transactions, with Chanpreet Singh identified as the individual who facilitated these transactions. The ED claims that a substantial amount of this money was given to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in cash and was used to fund a luxurious 7-star hotel stay for Kejriwal. Prosecution's Standpoint: Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, representing the ED, argued that the Central Bureau of Investigation (C...