Question : CENTRE- STATE RELATIONS

(a) whether different Committees/Commissions/Expert Groups set up by the Union Government have looked into issues pertaining to Centre-State relations;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the salient features of the recommendations made by each of them and the recommendations accepted/not accepted and implemented by the Union Government;

(c) whether the Union Government has convened any meeting of the State Governments on Centre-State relations during each of the last two years; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and reaction of the Union Government on the major issues raised by the State Governments therein?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI AJAY MAKEN)

(a) & (b): The Government of India had constituted a Commission in June, 1983 under the chairmanship of Justice R.S. Sarkaria to review the working of the arrangements between the Union and States in regard to powers, functions and responsibilities in all spheres and recommend such changes or other measures as may be appropriate. In its report submitted in 1988, the Commission made 247 recommendations relating to Legislative Relations, Administrative Relations, Role of Governors, Reservations of Bills, Emergency Provisions, Deployment of Union Armed Forces, All India Services, Inter-Governmental Council, Financial Relations, Economic & Social Planning, Industries, Mines & Minerals,Agriculture, Forests, Food & Civil Supplies, Inter-State River Water Disputes, Trade, Commerce and Inter-Course within the territory of India, Mass Media, Misc. – Language, UTs and High Court Judges. The Government has accepted and implemented 180 recommendations, which were accepted by the Inter-State Council. 65 recommendations have not been accepted either by Inter-State Council or the Union Government.

The Government has set up a Commission on Centre-State Relations under the chairmanship of Shri Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi (Retd.), former Chief Justice of India vide Gazette notification dated the 27th April, 2007. The Commission has not submitted its report.

(c): No, Madam.

(d): Does not arise.