Question

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Sarkaria Commission’s recommendations?
(i) The institution of All-India Services should be further strengthened.
(ii) The Zonal Councils should be reactivated to promote federalism.
(iii) The governor can dismiss the council of ministers even if it commands a majority in the assembly.

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

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Only (i) and (ii)

Sarkaria Commission Recommendations

Background and Purpose

• The Sarkaria Commission was constituted by the Central Government in 1983 to thoroughly examine the existing arrangements between the Centre and states across various sectors.

• It was chaired by Justice R.S. Sarkaria, a retired judge of the Supreme Court. The other members included B. Sivaraman and S.R. Sen.

• The Commission submitted its comprehensive report in 1987, which contained 247 specific recommendations aimed at reforming Centre-State relations.

• While many of its recommendations were accepted and implemented by the Union Government, some significant ones remain to be fully adopted.

Key Recommendations Relevant to the Statements

• Strengthening All-India Services:

  • The Commission strongly advocated for the strengthening and continuation of the All-India Services (e.g., Indian Administrative Service - IAS, Indian Police Service - IPS, Indian Forest Service - IFS).

  • It emphasized that these services are crucial for maintaining administrative efficiency, promoting uniformity in administration across states, and fostering national integration.

  • The existence of All-India Services personnel, serving both the Union and the States, contributes to a cohesive and national outlook in governance.

• Reactivating Zonal Councils:

  • The Commission recommended making greater use and reactivating the Zonal Councils, alongside the Inter-State Council, to facilitate dialogue, promote cooperative federalism, and resolve inter-state disputes effectively.

  • It viewed these bodies as vital platforms for coordination and consensus-building between the Centre and the states on matters of common interest.

  • Zonal Councils are statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. India is currently divided into six Zonal Councils: Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, Southern, and North-Eastern (the North-Eastern Council was established under a separate Act in 1971).

• Role of the Governor regarding Council of Ministers:

  • The Commission explicitly stated that the Governor should not dismiss the Council of Ministers as long as it enjoys the confidence of the legislative assembly.

  • It unequivocally recommended that the ultimate test of confidence of the Council of Ministers must always be demonstrated and proven on the floor of the House.

  • This recommendation aimed to prevent arbitrary actions by Governors and to uphold the democratic principle that a government in power should only be removed if it loses the majority support in the assembly.

Other Important Recommendations for Competitive Exams

• Article 356 (President's Rule): The Commission recommended that the imposition of President's Rule under Article 356 should be an extremely rare event, used only as a measure of last resort, and only when the constitutional machinery in a state has genuinely and demonstrably broken down.

• Inter-State Council: It strongly recommended the establishment of a permanent Inter-State Council under Article 263 of the Constitution to foster coordination between states and the Centre. This council was eventually constituted in 1990 based on the Commission's recommendations.

• Financial Relations: The Commission suggested greater devolution of financial resources and powers to the states, along with a recommendation for mandatory consultation with states before the Centre legislates on matters falling under the Concurrent List