Overview of Proposed Legislative Changes

The Centre has introduced three bills, including a constitutional amendment, aimed at enhancing the probity and accountability of Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, and Ministers.

• Officials will lose their positions if detained for an offence punishable with imprisonment of five years or more.
• They may return to their posts upon acquittal.

Concerns and Implications

There is skepticism regarding the true intent of these proposals, with concerns about centralization of power:

• The Opposition and legal experts argue that the proposals could concentrate power in the Centre's hands.
• The claim of equal applicability to the Prime Minister is seen as weak since investigative agencies are under central control.
• Pattern observed: Central agencies targeting the Opposition while sparing those aligned with the ruling party.
• The current pattern of selective enforcement by agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and CBI raises questions.

Judicial and Political Ramifications

There are significant ramifications for justice and political dynamics:

• Potential misuse of power against political rivals.
• Harsh legal provisions make obtaining bail difficult, affecting personal liberty.
• The political character of corruption prosecutions has become apparent.

Federalism and Legal Standards

The proposals present challenges to federal principles and legal norms:

• Risk of violating federal principles due to application mainly to state/union territory governments.
• Investing state governors with veto power could disrupt legislative decisions.
• New proposals could lead to removal from office without a fair trial, contradicting "innocent until proven guilty" tenets.
• Current laws already govern removal of officials post-conviction, making new proposals redundant.