Major Recommendations for Union-State Relations Unveiled in Chennai Report
A high-level committee on Union–State relations, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph, has put forward a series of significant proposals aimed at strengthening federalism in India. The 387-page report was formally presented in the Tamil Nadu Assembly by Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday, addressing ten critical areas including the role of Governors, language policy, delimitation, elections, education, health, and GST reforms.
Governor Appointment and Term Reforms
The committee has recommended a major overhaul in the appointment and tenure of Governors. It proposes amending Article 155 of the Constitution to require the President to appoint a Governor from a panel of three names approved by a majority of the total membership of the State Legislative Assembly. Additionally, the report advocates for a single, fixed, non-renewable five-year term for Governors to ensure stability and reduce political interference.
Constitutional Amendment Safeguards
On constitutional amendments, the report emphasizes stricter procedures. It suggests that every amendment Bill under Article 368(2) must secure a two-thirds majority of the total membership of each House of Parliament. For amendments affecting specific States, ratification should only be required from the legislatures of those States, approved by a two-thirds majority of their total membership. The committee also calls for minimizing provisions that can be altered by a simple parliamentary majority, arguing this would prevent ideologically driven or politically motivated measures from being pushed through easily.
Language Policy Corrections
The report urges the Union government to address Census distortions by ending the misclassification of 53 independent languages—such as Bhojpuri, Rajasthani, Chhattisgarhi, and Magadhi—as "dialects of Hindi." It stresses the need to present accurate data on Hindi speakers and reiterates opposition to Hindi imposition. The committee asserts that India must abandon the "One Nation, One Language" premise, recognizing that national unity stems from equality rather than linguistic uniformity.
Territorial Integrity and State Consent
Regarding territorial integrity, the report proposes amending Article 2 to limit its scope to the admission of new territories and the creation of new States from such territories. Any territorial reorganisation under Article 3 should be treated as a State-specific constitutional amendment, requiring the concurrence of the affected State to protect its interests.
GST Council Reforms
On Goods and Services Tax, the committee recommends rebalancing quorum and voting norms under Article 279A to restore federal equilibrium within the GST Council. It suggests targeted amendments to clauses (7) and (9) of Article 279A, with options including:
- A higher quorum with a fixed voting base
- Weighted rebalancing under a partnership model
- A 'one member, one vote' formula
The objective is not to paralyse decision-making but to curb unilateralism, compel genuine consensus, and align the Council with the constitutional promise of cooperative federalism.
Financial and Administrative Recommendations
The committee has also made several financial and administrative proposals. It urges the Union government to bear at least 80 percent of the costs for Centrally Sponsored Schemes and recommends untied block grants for other forms of assistance. States should be offered a menu of schemes to choose from, and the Union should refrain from intruding into the State domain of health. Additionally, Union schemes should adopt co-branding with State-language nomenclature alongside Hindi and English to promote linguistic diversity.
In his foreword, Chief Minister Stalin highlighted that the analysis draws on Constituent Assembly debates, comparative federal studies, earlier commission reports, judicial pronouncements, and contemporary research. He noted that the recommendations are rooted in principles of subsidiarity, democratic accountability, constitutional propriety, and best practices from mature federations, aiming to foster a more balanced and equitable Union-State relationship in India.
