Rajamannar Committee: Understanding its Role and Significance in Indian Polity

Introduction

Usually state committees don't get that much of attentions but this is not the case in Rajamannar Committee. In1969, the Tamil Nadu Government have formed it for examining the Center State relations in the country. The recommendations and suggestions of these committee is still a topic of debate and discussion.

This is why, in this article, we have mentioned all the important suggestions and recommendations of Rajamannar Committee in detail. If you are here to know about this committee in detail, please read this article to the end.

So, let's start-

What is Rajamannar Committee & why it was formed?

The Rajamannar Committee was indeed appointed by the Tamil Nadu DMK government in 1969 for the purpose of examining the Centre-State relations in India and recommending ways to strengthen the federal structure. Here are some more details:

• The committee was chaired by Justice P. V. Rajamannar, who was a retired Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.
• It had 12 members, including legal experts, academics, and politicians from different states.
• The committee submitted its report in 1971, which contained several recommendations for improving the Centre-State relations in India.

Here we have added a few of most important recommendations of Rajamannar committee below-

• A clear demarcation of powers between the Centre and the states, with the Centre having only those powers that were necessary for the efficient functioning of the country as a whole.
• The establishment of a permanent body to resolve disputes between the Centre and the states.
• The setting up of a system for consultation and cooperation between the Centre and the states on matters of common interest.
• The report was widely discussed and debated, but most of the recommendations were not implemented at the time.
• Some of the ideas put forward by the committee were later incorporated into the 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Constitution, which provided for greater devolution of powers to the states and the establishment of local self-government bodies.
• The Rajamannar Committee report remains an important document in the history of Centre-State relations in India, and is often cited in discussions on the subject.

Significance of Rajamannar Committee

The Rajamannar Committee had significant implications for the Center-State relations in India. Some of the major significance of the committee are listed below:

• The committee brought attention to the issue of federalism and the need for a more cooperative federal structure.
• The recommendations of the committee were aimed at enhancing the powers of the states and making them more autonomous in terms of decision-making.
• It led to a debate on the nature of federalism and the balance of power between the center and states.
• The recommendations of the committee formed the basis of the 42nd Amendment to the Indian Constitution, which was aimed at giving more powers to the states.
• It emphasized the need for greater fiscal autonomy for the states and recommended the creation of a separate finance commission to look into the fiscal arrangements between the center and states.
• The committee recommended the formation of inter-state councils to facilitate cooperation between the states and the center.
• It called for a relook at the role of the governor and recommended that the governor should act as a bridge between the center and states.
• The committee recommended that the center should consult the states before making changes to the state list.
• It recommended that states should have greater control over law and order and police matters.
• The committee's recommendations have been cited in many subsequent debates and discussions on the federal structure of India and have influenced the ongoing evolution of the center-state relations.

Recommendations of Rajamannar Committee

There are many recommendations that made by Rajamannar Committee. We have listed down some of most important below:

• There should be greater & wider financial autonomy for the states.
• The Centre should provide more assistance to the states related to the development of infrastructure work in states.
• The Centre should provide more resources to the states for the development of education and health.
• There should be a revision of the terms of reference of the Finance Commission.
• The Centre should provide greater autonomy to the states in the management of their natural resources.
• The Centre should not impose any taxes on the states without their consent.
• There should be a reconsideration of the existing system of allocation of funds to the states.
• The Centre should provide more support to the states for the development of agriculture.
• The Centre should provide more assistance to the states for the development of industries.
• The Centre should provide more support to the states for the development of rural areas.

FAQ's

Q1. What was the objective of the Rajamannar Committee?

Ans: The objective of the Rajamannar Committee was to examine the relationship between the Centre and the States in India and suggest measures for strengthening the federal structure of the country.

Q2. When was the Rajamannar Committee formed?

Ans: The Rajamannar Committee was formed in 1969.

Q3. Who constituted the Rajamannar Committee?

Ans: The Rajamannar Committee was constituted by the Tamil Nadu state government, which was then led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party.

Q4. What were the major recommendations made by the Rajamannar Committee?

Ans: The major recommendations made by the Rajamannar Committee included increasing the powers and autonomy of the state governments, reducing the discretionary powers of the Centre, setting up a permanent inter-state council to resolve disputes, and enhancing the financial resources of the states.

Q5. Did the Rajamannar Committee impact center-state relations in India?

Ans: The impact of the Rajamannar Committee on center-state relations in India was limited as the recommendations of the committee were not implemented in their entirety. However, the committee's report provided valuable insights into the challenges of federalism in India and influenced subsequent discussions on center-state relations.