Question

Choose the correct statement(s) regarding the Rajamannar Committee.
(i) It was appointed by the Tamil Nadu government in 1969 to suggest amendments for greater state autonomy.
(ii) The committee recommended the abolition of Articles 356, 357, and 365 of the Constitution.
(iii) The Central government fully accepted and implemented the committee’s recommendations.

• A. Only (i) and (ii)
• B. Only (i) and (iii)
• C. Only (ii) and (iii)
• D. All the above (i, ii, iii)

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Only (i) and (ii)

The Rajamannar Committee (1969)

• The Rajamannar Committee was constituted by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government of Tamil Nadu in 1969.
• It was formed under the chairmanship of Dr. P.V. Rajamannar, a former Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.
• The primary objective of the committee was to examine the entire question of Centre-State relations in India and to suggest amendments to the Constitution for achieving greater state autonomy.

Key Recommendations of the Rajamannar Committee:

• The committee submitted its report in 1971.
• It strongly advocated for extensive devolution of powers from the Centre to the States.
• One of its significant recommendations was the abolition of Articles 356, 357, and 365 of the Constitution. These articles deal with the imposition of President's Rule in states.
• It also recommended the establishment of an Inter-State Council as a permanent body, specifically mentioning it should be called the 'Inter-State Council' as enshrined in Article 263 of the Constitution.
• The committee suggested that the Finance Commission should be made a permanent body.
• It recommended that the residuary powers of taxation should be vested in the states, rather than the Centre.
• Another recommendation was to delete the provisions regarding the reservation of state bills for the consideration of the President.

Central Government's Response:

• The Central government did not accept most of the major recommendations of the Rajamannar Committee.
• Despite its rejection by the Centre, the committee's report played a crucial role in highlighting the demand for state autonomy and became a significant document in the ongoing debate about Centre-State relations in India.
• It influenced subsequent discussions and committees on federalism, such as the Sarkaria Commission (1983).