Question

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Punchhi Commission’s recommendations?
(i) Governors should be given a fixed tenure of five years, and their removal should not be at the Centre’s discretion.
(ii) The Inter-State Council should have a continuing auditing role in matters of concurrent jurisdiction.
(iii) The All-India Services should be abolished to enhance state autonomy.

• 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)

Punchhi Commission on Centre-State Relations

• The Punchhi Commission was constituted by the Government of India in 2007 to examine and review the working of the existing arrangements between the Union and States, and recommend changes and measures to meet the challenges of good governance and strengthen the Centre-State relations. It was chaired by Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi, former Chief Justice of India.
• The Commission submitted its report in 2010, providing comprehensive recommendations across various aspects of Union-State relations.

Key Recommendations of the Punchhi Commission:

• Regarding Governors:
  • The Commission recommended that the Governor should have a fixed tenure of five years.
  • It suggested that the process of removing the Governor should not be left to the discretion of the Centre (President's pleasure). Instead, a process similar to the impeachment of a judge of the Supreme Court should be followed, or a resolution by the State Legislature should be passed for their removal. This proposal aimed to ensure security of tenure and prevent arbitrary removals.
  • This recommendation addresses the long-standing debate over the discretionary powers and political implications of the Governor's office, particularly under Article 156 of the Constitution.
• Regarding the Inter-State Council:
  • The Commission strongly advocated for a more active and effective role for the Inter-State Council (ISC).
  • It recommended that the ISC should be empowered to function as a robust mechanism for resolving Centre-State disputes and for dialogue on policy issues.
  • A significant suggestion was that the ISC should have a continuing auditing role in matters falling under the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule. This would involve scrutinizing policies, legislation, and implementation strategies concerning concurrent subjects, ensuring better coordination and cooperation between the Union and states.
  • The Inter-State Council is established under Article 263 of the Indian Constitution.
• Regarding All-India Services:
  • Contrary to the statement, the Punchhi Commission did not recommend the abolition of All-India Services (AIS).
  • Instead, the Commission supported the continuation of All-India Services (like IAS, IPS, IFS) as they are crucial for maintaining national unity and administrative efficiency.
  • It even suggested the possibility of creating new All-India Services in areas such as health, education, and judicial services to strengthen the all-India character of the administration.
  • All-India Services are constituted under Article 312 of the Constitution, which empowers Parliament to create such services by law.