About Rajamannar Committee
- In September 1969, the DMK Government of Tamil Nadu appointed a three member committee under the chairmanship of Dr. P.V. Rajamannar to consider the entire question of Centre-state relations.
- After two year, in 1971, the committee submitted its report.
Important recommendations of the committee are:
- An Inter-State Council should be constituted immediately.
- Every Bill of national importance or which is likely to affect the interests of one or more States should, before its introduction in Parliament, be referred to the Inter-State Council and its views thereon should be submitted to Parliament at the time of introduction of the Bill.
- Finance Commission should be made a permanent body.
- Planning Commission should be disbanded and its place should be taken by a statutory body.
- Articles 356, 357 and 365 (dealing with President’s Rule) should be totally omitted.
- The provision that the state ministry holds office during the pleasure of the governor should be omitted.
- Certain subjects of the Union List and the Concurrent List should be transferred to the State List.
- The residuary powers should be allocated to the states.
- All-India services (IAS, IPS and IFS) should be abolished.
Conclusion
- The committee favored the vesting of residuary power of legislation and taxation in the state legislature.
- The Committee identified the reasons for the prevailing unitary trends in the country. They include:
- Certain provisions in the Constitution which confer special powers on the Centre
- One-party rule both at the Centre and in the states.
- Inadequacy of states’ fiscal resources and consequent dependence on the Centre for financial assistance
- The institution of Central planning and the role of the Planning Commission.
- The Central government completely ignored the recommendations of the Rajamannar Committee.