Convene Inter-State Council meeting thrice a year: Tamil Nadu CM
Recently the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has written a letter to the Prime Minister, urging him to hold the Inter-State Council (ISC) meeting thrice a year.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has also suggested that Bills of national importance should be placed before the Council before they are introduced in the Parliament.
This will help in strengthening the spirit of “cooperative federalism”.
Inter-State Council (ISC) –
- It has been established under Article-263 of the Constitution. This article states that, the President may, if necessary, constitute such an institution.
- In the year 1988, the Sarkaria Commission had suggested that, this council should be in the form of a permanent body. After this it came into existence in the year 1990 through a Presidential Order.
The council includes the following:
- Prime Minister – Chairman;
- Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories having Legislative Assemblies – Members;
- Administrators of Union Territories which do not have Legislative Assembly – Members;
- Six ministers of cabinet rank in the Union Council of Ministers, who are nominated by the Prime Minister – members and
- 10 Union Ministers as permanent invitees.
Functions of Inter-State Council –
- Investigating and advising on disputes between states.
- To examine and discuss matters in which two States or States and the Union have common/common interest.
- To make recommendations for better coordination between policy and action.
- The Inter-State Council has met only once in the last six years. Since its formation in the year 1990, its meetings have been held only 11
Source – The Hindu
