Sarkaria Commission,

The Sarkaria Commission was established by the Indian government in 1983 to examine and review
Centre-State relations and recommend improvements. Chaired by Justice R.S. Sarkaria, the
commission submitted its report in 1988 with 247 recommendations. Below are key aspects of the
Sarkaria Commission's findings and recommendations:

Key Observations:

1. Federalism in India: The commission emphasized that Indian federalism is designed for
cooperative action and national unity, rather than being a rigid institutional concept.

2. Centralization Concerns: It recognized the dangers of over-centralization, which could

weaken the states while stressing the need for a strong Centre to maintain unity.

Important Recommendations:

1. Inter-State Council: A permanent council under Article 263 of the Constitution should be
established to improve Centre-State cooperation. (This was implemented in 1990.)

2. Article 356 (President's Rule):

o It should be used only as a last resort, in extreme cases of constitutional breakdown

in a state.

o All other alternatives should be exhausted before its invocation.

3. Governor's Role:

o Governors should be non-partisan individuals with experience in public life.

o The chief minister of the state should be consulted before the governor's
appointment.

o A governor cannot dismiss a state government as long as it has a majority in the

assembly.

4. All-India Services:

o The commission supported the retention and strengthening of All-India Services

(IAS, IPS, and IFoS).

o More such services should be created to enhance administrative efficiency.

5. Residuary Powers:

o Residuary powers related to taxation should remain with Parliament.

o Other residuary powers could be transferred to the Concurrent List.

6. Finance and Taxation:

o The Centre should share more tax proceeds with states.

o The net proceeds of corporation tax could be shared with states.

7. Central Deployment of Armed Forces:

 o While the Centre has the power to deploy armed forces in states without their
consent, it should consult the states beforehand.

8. Language and Media:

o Steps should be taken to implement a uniform three-language formula.

o There should be no autonomy for central radio and television services but
decentralization in their operations was recommended.

9. Rajya Sabha:

o No significant changes were recommended regarding the role of the Rajya Sabha or
the Centre's power to reorganize states.

Implementation:

The Indian government implemented 180 of the 247 recommendations. The most notable
implementation was the establishment of the Inter-State Council in 1990. However, some
recommendations, such as limiting the discretionary powers of the Governor or redefining the scope
of Article 356, remain partially implemented.

Rajamannar Committee
The Rajamannar Committee was formed in 1969 by the Tamil Nadu government under the
leadership of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). It was chaired by Dr. P.V. Rajamannar and
tasked with examining Centre-State relations and suggesting amendments to ensure greater
autonomy for states.

Context

The committee was established during a period of increasing centralization in India, which the DMK
viewed as undermining state autonomy. This was especially significant given the DMK's emphasis on
federalism and state rights.

Key Observations

The committee identified several factors contributing to the dominance of the Centre:

1. Certain provisions in the Constitution conferring extensive powers to the Centre.

2. One-party rule (Congress) at both the Centre and state levels.

3. States' financial dependence on the Centre due to inadequate fiscal resources.

4. The role of the Planning Commission, which further centralized economic planning and
resource allocation.

Major Recommendations

The committee made several recommendations to enhance the autonomy of states:

1. Inter-State Council:
 o Establish an Inter-State Council immediately to address disputes and coordinate
policies between the Centre and states.

2. Finance Commission:

o The Finance Commission should be made a permanent body with broader

responsibilities.

3. Abolition of the Planning Commission:

o Replace the Planning Commission with a statutory body that would ensure states
have a greater say in economic planning.

4. Articles 356, 357, and 365:

o These articles, which deal with President's Rule and the Centre's intervention in
state governance, should be completely removed from the Constitution.

5. Governor's Role:

o The provision that the state ministry holds office at the pleasure of the governor
should be omitted to prevent misuse of power by the Centre.

6. Legislative Powers:

o Transfer certain subjects from the Union List and Concurrent List to the State List to
reduce the Centre’s legislative control.

o Residuary powers should be allocated to the states.

7. Abolition of All-India Services:

o All-India Services like the IAS, IPS, and IFoS should be abolished, as they were seen
as tools of central control over state administration.

8. Federalism:

o The Constitution should be amended to ensure real federalism, with the Centre
focusing only on defense, foreign affairs, and currency.

Reception and Impact

The Rajamannar Committee's recommendations were groundbreaking but controversial. The Central
government completely ignored the report, as its proposals would have drastically reduced the
Centre's powers.

Legacy

Although the recommendations were not implemented, the committee played a significant role in
sparking debates on Centre-State relations. Many of its themes, such as state autonomy and
decentralization, resurfaced in later discussions, including in the reports of the Sarkaria and Punchhi
Commissions.

Punchhi Commission
The Punchhi Commission was the Second Commission on Centre-State Relations set up by the
Government of India in 2007 under the chairmanship of Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi, a former
Chief Justice of India. The commission's mandate was to review Centre-State relations in light of the
political, social, and economic changes since the Sarkaria Commission's report in 1988.

The commission submitted its seven-volume report in 2010, making over 310 recommendations.

Key Recommendations

1. Cooperative Federalism:

o Stressed the importance of cooperative federalism to sustain India's unity and

development.

o Suggested mechanisms to improve collaboration between the Centre and states,

especially on matters of overlapping jurisdictions.

2. Inter-State Council:

o Called for strengthening the Inter-State Council under Article 263 and giving it a
broader role in resolving disputes and policy coordination.

o Suggested making it a permanent, empowered body to manage Centre-State

differences.

3. Use of Article 356 (President's Rule):

o Advocated strict guidelines for the use of Article 356, aligning with the S.R. Bommai
judgment (1994), which limits its misuse.

o Recommended alternative measures under Article 355 before resorting to

President’s Rule.

4. Governor's Role:

o Recommended fixed five-year tenures for governors, with strict criteria for
appointment:

▪ Should be eminent individuals not involved in active politics.

▪ Governors should act only within constitutional limits, avoiding arbitrary

actions.

o Suggested a formal procedure for impeachment of governors, similar to that of the

President.

5. Legislation on Concurrent List Subjects:

o Urged the Centre to consult states before legislating on matters in the Concurrent
List.

o Advocated a broad agreement on such legislation to ensure cooperation and

harmony.

6. Localized Emergency Framework:

o Proposed a framework for "localized emergencies" to deal with specific situations

without invoking Article 356 or dissolving state governments.
 7. Centre’s Taxation Powers:

o Recommended revisiting fiscal devolution mechanisms to reduce states'

dependence on the Centre.

o Suggested that states' financial obligations arising from treaties and agreements
should be considered by Finance Commissions.

8. All-India Services:

o Supported creating new All-India Services in areas like health, education, and the
judiciary to improve national standards.

9. Rajya Sabha:

o Suggested equal representation for states in the Rajya Sabha, irrespective of their
population size, to enhance federal balance.

10. Central Legislation Impacting States:

o Recommended mandatory cost-sharing provisions for Central schemes implemented

by states (e.g., the Right to Education Act).

11. Strengthening Federal Institutions:

o Proposed setting up an Inter-State Trade and Commerce Commission under Article

307 to resolve inter-state trade issues.

12. Intervention in State Affairs:

o Emphasized the need for the Centre to intervene in states' affairs only when
absolutely necessary, in line with federal principles.

Implementation and Challenges

• The recommendations of the Punchhi Commission were discussed by the Inter-State

Council’s Standing Committee in 2017 and 2018.

• Many recommendations remain under consideration, with no major implementation yet.

The Centre has been cautious in adopting recommendations that might dilute its authority
or alter the federal structure significantly.

Significance

The Punchhi Commission has played a vital role in furthering the debate on Centre-State relations
and cooperative federalism. Its focus on balancing the Centre's authority with states' autonomy is
increasingly relevant as India navigates complex socio-political and economic challenges.

Administrative Reforms Commission (1966)

The Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) of 1966 was the first comprehensive commission set
up by the Government of India to examine public administration and suggest measures for reform.
Its mandate included reviewing Centre-State relations, along with other areas of governance. It was
chaired initially by Morarji Desai and later by K. Hanumanthaiah.

The ARC submitted 20 reports covering various aspects of administration, including one on Centre-
State relations, with recommendations aimed at strengthening cooperative federalism and
improving governance.

Key Recommendations on Centre-State Relations

1. Establishment of an Inter-State Council:

o Suggested the creation of a permanent Inter-State Council under Article 263 of the
Constitution to foster coordination and resolve inter-state disputes.

o This recommendation was later implemented in 1990.

2. Appointment of Governors:

o Advocated appointing governors who have long experience in public administration

and a non-partisan attitude.

o Suggested limiting their discretionary powers and ensuring their actions align with
constitutional propriety.

3. Delegation of Powers to States:

o Recommended the maximum delegation of powers to states to strengthen their

autonomy and reduce over-centralization.

4. Financial Autonomy:

o Suggested transferring more financial resources to the states to reduce their

dependency on the Centre for funds.

5. Deployment of Central Forces:

o Recommended that the Centre deploy its armed forces in states only on request or
in consultation with the concerned state government.

Impact of Recommendations

• Inter-State Council: This was one of the most significant recommendations implemented.
The council was established in 1990 to improve coordination between the Centre and states.

• Other recommendations, like non-partisan appointments of governors and financial

autonomy for states, have been partially addressed but remain contentious.

Broader Contributions of the ARC

 • The ARC addressed not just Centre-State relations but also areas like governance,
corruption, public sector reforms, and personnel management.

• Its recommendations laid the foundation for administrative and federal reforms in India.

Although some of its proposals were not immediately acted upon, the 1966 ARC report remains a
landmark in the evolution of India's federal governance framework. Let me know if you'd like details
about other aspects of the commission's work!