Bills on ‘One Nation, One Election’ to be introduced in Lok Sabha today

Jammu, Dec 16: Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will introduce two Bills aimed at amending the Constitution of India and second “The Union Territories Law (Amendment) Bill, 2024” tomorrow.

As per the revised “List of Business” in Lok Sabha for December 17, the Union Law Minister will introduce “The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and “The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024” on Tuesday. These Bills will enable simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls of states and Union Territories, including J&K.

Earlier these Bills were to be introduced on December 16. Yet hours after including it in the “List of Business” for December 16, the Government decided to defer them reportedly till the completion of its financial business in the House. Later, a revised List of Business was issued, which did not have these Bills.

Both these draft legislations are in alignment with the Centre’s “One Nation, One Election” proposal, which was approved by the union cabinet on December 12.

“The Union Territories Law (Amendment) Bill, 2024” will aim at amending “The Government of Union Territories Act, 1963” (related to Puducherry), “The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991” and “The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.”

“The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024” aims at amending provisions of laws dealing with three Union Territories with Assemblies viz., Puducherry, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, so as to make them compatible with “One Nation, One Election” proposal. As per the Constitution Amendment Bill, all state assemblies elected after “an appointed date” (as to be notified by the President of India on the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after general elections) would have their terms curtailed so as to align with the full term of Lok Sabha thus enabling simultaneous elections.

“The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024” proposes the same provisions through amendments in existing laws dealing with the three UTs with assemblies i.e., Puducherry, Delhi and J&K.

Going by the content of draft legislation, simultaneous polls, even if the proposal gets approval, could not be held before 2034.

Notably on December 12, the Union Cabinet had approved this proposal, aiming to “conduct simultaneous LS and assembly polls, followed by urban body and Panchayat polls within 100 days.”

The proposal was based on the recommendation of a high-level committee led by the former President Ram Nath Kovind.