Q. With reference to ‘Inter-State Council’, consider the following statements:
1. As per the Constitution, only the Parliament of India is empowered to define the duties of an inter-state council.
2. Janata Dal Government established the Inter-State Council in 1990 on the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission.
3. The council is a recommendatory body that is empowered to investigate and discuss subjects of common interest between Centre and states.
4. All the questions in the council are decided by consensus.
How many of the above given statements are correct?
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
Article 263 contemplates the establishment of an InterState Council to effect coordination between the states and between Centre and states. Thus, the President can establish such a council if at any time it appears to him that the public interest would be served by its establishment.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The president is empowered to define the duties of an inter-state council. He can define the nature of duties to be performed by such a council and its organisation and procedure.
Statement 2 is correct: The Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State Relations (1983–87) made a strong case for the establishment of a permanent Inter-State Council under Article 263 of the Constitution. It recommended that to differentiate the Inter-State Council from other bodies established under the same Article 263, it must be called as the Inter-Governmental Council. In pursuance of the above recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission, the Janata Dal Government headed by V. P. Singh established the Inter-State Council in 1990.
Statement 3 is correct: The council is a recommendatory body on issues relating to inter-state, Centre–state and Centre–union territories relations. Statement 4 is correct: The Council may meet at least thrice in a year. Its meetings are held in camera and all questions are decided by consensus.
| Important Tips The Inter-State Council is assisted by a secretariat called the Inter-State Council Secretariat. This secretariat was set-up in 1991 and is headed by a secretary to the Government of India. Since 2011, it is also functioning as the secretariat of the Zonal Councils. |
