Q. With reference to the changes in the territory of states/Union Territories in India, consider the following statements:
1. The Indian Constitution requires Parliament to get the consent of all state(s) involved in creation/ merger of states.
2. A Parliamentary bill providing for alteration in the boundaries of a Union Territory must be referred to the legislature of the concerned Union Territory.
Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: As per Articles 2 and 3, the Parliament at the Centre can create new states, or make adjustments in existing states. They mention that the Parliament does not need to gain the consent of the state in question for any of the activities mentioned before. The Parliament can unilaterally create or merge or change any territorial feature of any state. To do so, only simple legislation requiring a simple majority will be sufficient.
Statement 2 is incorrect: A bill contemplating the changes in the area/boundaries/name of a state can be introduced in the Parliament only with the prior recommendation of the President. Also, before recommending the bill, the President has to refer the same to the state legislature concerned for expressing its views within a specified period. But, in case of a union territory, no reference need be made to the concerned legislature to ascertain its views and the Parliament can itself take any action as it deems fit.
