Flawed Bills: Fair legislation a must to oust tainted ministers

IT’s no surprise that the three Bills introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday ran into rough weather right away. The Opposition tore the Bills apart, literally as well as metaphorically, describing them as ‘draconian’, ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘diversionary’. There is no doubt that the conduct of Central and state ministers — including the Prime Minister and chief ministers — should be beyond suspicion. However, the contentious proposal to remove a tainted minister — who has been arrested and detained in custody for 30 consecutive days for offences that attract a jail term of at least five years — is fraught with dangerous consequences. It strikes at the heart of parliamentary democracy and constitutional federalism.