JPC Defers Report On J&K, Union Territory Bills, Seeks Wider Stakeholder Consultations

New Delhi, Jul 17: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) chaired by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi on Friday deferred the adoption of its draft report on three key legislations concerning Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territories, saying further deliberations and wider stakeholder consultations were required before finalising its recommendations. The committee met at the Parliament House Annexe to examine the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025. City& Local Guides During the meeting, officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) briefed members on the proposed amendments, following which the panel discussed the draft report. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sarangi said the committee had unanimously decided not to adopt the report at this stage. “The meeting did not adopt the draft report today. We will have further deliberations,” she said. Sarangi said the committee felt additional consultations with stakeholders were necessary before submitting its final recommendations. “There were five recommendations before the committee, but during discussions, members unanimously agreed that more deliberations and consultations with stakeholders were needed,” she said. She noted that the Joint Committee was constituted on August 20, 2025, after the Union Home Minister introduced the Bills in the Lok Sabha. It was formally notified on November 12, 2025, and held its first meeting on December 2, 2025. The committee will continue its consultations before finalising and submitting its report on the three Bills.