Indian Polity by Laxmikant: Center - State Relations : Review Commissions

                                         Center - State Relations : Review Commissions

1.      Admin Reforms Commission : [1^st ARC]

·         Appointed in 1966 with 6 members.

·         Headed by Morarji desai

·         Due to resignation of desai, K.Hanumantayah was appointed as chairman.

·         As a part of it a study team was appointed under the chairmanship of M.C.Setalvad for centre- state relations.

·         Setawad was 1^st Attorney general of India.

2.      Justice Raj Mannar Commission :

·         Appointed by T.N government in 1969.

·         It was headed by Justice P.V.Raj Mannar.

·         Its report was submitted in 1971.

·         But this report was totally rejected by central government

Controversial recommendations are:

• Repealing Art-356.
• Abolishing All India services.
• Assiging/Transferring Residuary powers to states.
• Report of RajMannar committee was criticized as Anti-national.

3.      Anadpur Sahab Resolution :

·         This was the resolution made by Aalidal party Punjab in 1973, reviewing centre-state relations.

4.      Sarkaria Commission :

·         In 1983, central government appointed an official commission, under the chairmanship of justice R.S.Sakaria, to review the centre-state relations.

·         The committee submitted its final report in 1987, with 247 recomm. Consisting of 5000 pages.

Out of them, 170 recomm were accepted by central govt. recomm. of this commission has lost current relevance.

Madan Mohan poonchi commission: known as 2^nd commission on C-S relations.

• It was appointed by central govt in 2007, under former CJI M.M Poonchi. 

Second ARC

• Appointed in 2005; under chairmanship of veerappa moily consisting of 5 members.
• ARC submitted 15 reports, 14^th report contains financial admin. Management of finance & has bearing on C-S financial relations 

Comments on Nature of Indian Federation:

1. Constitution of India is a unitary state with subsidiary federal features than being a federation with subsidiary unitary features. So it is a ‘Quasi Federal’. – K.C. whear.
2. India is an extremely federal – Paul Appleby.
3.  India is a bargaining federation – Moris Jones.
4.  India is a cooperative federation – Granvelle Austin
5. India is an elastic federation. It resilience where it is unitary in emergency conditions & federal in ordinary conditions. – Dr. B.R Ambedkar.

Unitary Features:

• Single const.
• Single citizenship
• Emergency powers
• All India services
• Appointed Governor
•  Integrated Judiciary
• Formation / Alteration of states is the discretion of parliament
• Equal representation in R.S.