December 04, 2001

‘5’

        The Government of India had constituted the Sarkaria Commission in order to review the working of the existing arrangements between the Union and the States with regard to powers, functions and responsibilities in all spheres and to recommend such changes or measures as may be necessary with a view to developing harmonious Centre-State relations. The Minister of State for Home, Shri Ch. Vidyasagar Rao told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that Commission’s recommendations covered all aspects of Centre-State relations including Legislative Relations, Administrative Relations, Reservation of Bills, Emergency provisions, Deployment of Union Armed Forces in State, All India Services, Financial Relations, Forests, etc. The recommendations made by the Sarkaria Commission are considered by the Inter-State Council which has Chief Ministers of the States, Administrators of Union territories and some Union Ministers as members.

        The Sarkaria Commission made 247 recommendations in all upto the 6^th meeting held till the year 2000, the Inter-State Council had taken a view on 171 recommendations. In its 7^th meeting held on 16^th November, 2001, the Council took a view in principle on another 59 recommendations. Thus, a view has been taken by the Inter-State Council on 230 out of 247 recommendations. Out of these, 108 recommendations have been implemented in phases, 87 are in the process of implementation and 35 recommendations have not been accepted. The remaining 17 recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission are yet to be considered by the Inter-State Council.