Question

Which commission conducted an examination of the center-state relations?

• A. Sri Krishna Commission
• B. Sarkaria Commission
• C. Rajamannar Commission
• D. Kher Commission

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Sarkaria Commission

Sarkaria Commission Overview

• Establishment: The commission was set up in June 1983 by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to review the relationship and balance of power between the central and state governments.
• Composition: It was a three-member commission headed by Justice Ranjit Singh Sarkaria, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. The other two members were B. Sivaraman and Dr. S.R. Sen.
• Submission of Report: After receiving multiple extensions, the commission submitted its final report in January 1988, containing 247 specific recommendations.

Key Recommendations of the Commission

• Inter-State Council: It recommended the establishment of a permanent Inter-State Council under Article 263 of the Constitution. Following this, the Inter-State Council was set up in 1990.
• Article 356 (President's Rule): The commission advised that Article 356 should be used very sparingly and only as a last resort when all other alternatives to resolve a constitutional crisis in a state have failed.
• Office of the Governor: It suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the state, a detached figure without intense local political links, and must be appointed only after consulting the Chief Minister of the state concerned.
• Residuary Powers: While residuary powers of taxation should remain with Parliament, other residuary powers should be transferred to the Concurrent List.
• All-India Services: It recommended strengthening the All-India Services (IAS, IPS, IFS) to promote national integration, rather than disbanding them as demanded by some states.
• Concurrent List: The Union government should consult the state governments before enacting laws on subjects mentioned in the Concurrent List.
• Zonal Councils: Re-activating and strengthening the Zonal Councils to promote the spirit of cooperative federalism.

Other Notable Commissions on Centre-State Relations

• Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC - 1966): Headed initially by Morarji Desai and later by K. Hanumanthaiah, it made several recommendations regarding Union-State relations.
• Rajamannar Committee (1969): Appointed by the Tamil Nadu Government to look into Centre-State relations and suggest reforms to secure utmost autonomy for states.
• Punchhi Commission (2007): Headed by former Chief Justice of India Madan Mohan Punchhi, it submitted its report in 2010 on Centre-State relations, updating the perspective on cooperative federalism.