Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has urged the Central government to reverse trends of centralisation and provide States, and in turn local governments, with significantly greater authority and resources.
The text of Ms. Jayalalithaa’s speech was circulated at 11{+t}{+h}Inter-State Council Meeting in New Delhi which was attended by Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam. A copy of the speech was released to the media here.
In her speech, she said the States have grown significantly and a federal polity has become more entrenched but changes in Centre-State relations have clearly not kept pace.
The NDA’s “co-operative federalism” will degenerate into empty rhetoric if the States are not given adequate powers and fiscal resources, she said.
On the agenda of the meeting – Justice M.M. Punchhi Commission recommendations – she briefly dwelt on key issues in her text.
Amending Article 356 to incorporate the safeguards inherent in the Bommai judgment of the Supreme Court was an important recommendation of the Commission, she observed and said a reiteration of the safeguards available for elected State governments and “preventing adventurism” by Governors was very essential and important.
It would not be appropriate to act with haste on the recommendation providing a fixed term of five years for Governors. Their removal should be made only through impeachment and not at the pleasure of the President, she said.
She welcomed the suggestion that a time limit of six months may be prescribed for the President to decide on a Bill reserved for the consideration of the President under Article 201.
The Chief Minister, however, did not agree to the recommendation to give equal number of seats to the Rajya Sabha irrespective of the size of the population in the States.
“The present composition of the Rajya Sabha is appropriate and must be preserved.”
Inter-State disputes
Pointing out the absence of a strong alternative forum to address inter-State disputes effectively, the State government reiterated its request to the Centre to establish the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee immediately. As bulk of the legal costs was met by the States, the Centre must come forward to share a greater proportion of the costs incurred by the States.
The State government termed as “unnecessary” the suggestion that a delegation, nominated by the National Integration Council, visit the area affected by serious communal incidents. It could “contribute to needless escalation of tensions”. Instead, the State government and the Union Home Ministry should decide on the issue.
The suo motu deployment of central forces and even imposition of Central rule in the affected State was “very dangerous” and it was “entirely against the federal fabric of the Indian Constitution.”
Education in State List
The subject of ‘Education’ should be considered to be returned to the ‘State List’ where it originally was.
‘Environment, Ecology and Climate Change’ subject should be included in the Concurrent List and not in the Union List, she demanded. The Commission’s recommendations “fully” supported the State’s stand on the issue of Goods and Services Tax, she pointed out.
The Chief Minister reiterated her opposition to National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions and to the National Counter Terrorism Centre.
With the nation witnessing a steady shift in real political and economic power away from the Centre (after liberalisation), the State level parties and leaders are now far more significant players, Ms. Jayalalithaa pointed out.
“These should not be seen as centrifugal or fissiparous trends that have to be curbed, but as a manifestation of India’s maturing as a nation with diversity and as a democracy,” the Chief Minister said seeking decentralisation of authority and resources.
Finance Minister
O. Panneerselvam attended the meeting on behalf of the State on Saturday
