The committee will be headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph and will suggest measures to reinforce the constitutional rights of Indian states.
Historical Parallel – Rajamannar Committee (1969)
- Purpose: To study the Constitution and recommend maximum state autonomy in legislative, executive, and judicial spheres.
- Key findings:
- Criticized Article 365 as a tool for unjustified central overreach and strongly recommended repealing Article 356 (President’s Rule).
- Suggested empowering the Inter-State Council under Article 263.
- Felt that the Finance Commission’s role was sidelined.
Other committees on centre-state relations
- Sarkaria Commission(1983)
- Key recommendations
- It did not favor disbanding all-India services in the interest of the country’s integrity. Instead, it selected new all-India services.
- President’s Rule should be a last resort.
- Suggested that active politicians should not be appointed governors.
- Suggested that the three-language formula should be implemented in its true spirit in all the states.
- Key recommendations
- Punchhi Commission(2007)
- Key recommendations
- Proposed a formal impeachment mechanism for the Governor, similar to the President’s impeachment under Article 61.
- Centre can Consult with States while legislating on matters in Concurrent List
- Avoid blanket application of Article 356 and minimize misuse.
- Key recommendations