ARTICLE 263 OF THE CONSTITUTION
Inter-State Council has been set up under article 263 of the Constitution for co-ordination of Inter-State matters.
Article 263 of the Constitution of India provides as under: -
If at any time it appears to the President that the public interest would be served by the establishment of a Council charged with the duty of: -
· Inquiring into and advising upon disputes which may have arisen between States;
· Investigating and discussing subjects in which some or all of the States, or the Union and one or more of the States, have a common interest;
· Making recommendations upon any such subject and in particular, recommendations for the better co-ordination of policy and action with respect to that subject;
"It shall be lawful for the President by order to establish such a Council, and to define the nature of the duties to be performed by it and its organization and procedure."
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT, 1935
Article 263 of the Constitution substantially reproduces section 135 of the Government of India Act, 1935. Section 135 provided for establishment of Inter-Provincial Council with duties identical with those of the Inter-State Council as stipulated under article 263 of the Constitution. At the time of framing of section 135 of the Government of India Act, 1935, it was felt that "if departments or institutions of coordination and research are to be maintained at the Centre in such matters as Agriculture, Forestry, Irrigation, Education and Public Health and if such institutions are to be able to rely on appropriations of public funds sufficient to enable them to carry on their work, the joint interest of Provincial Governments in them must be expressed in some regular and recognized machinery of Inter-Governmental constultations." It was also intended that the said Council should be set up as soon as the Provincial autonomy provisions of Government of India Act, 1935 came into operation. The said Council was envisaged to be advisory for facilitating Inter-Provincial cooperation. Since the plea of federation itself was not given effect to by the then Government, no such Council was established.
FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS COMMISSION
The Administrative Reforms Commission in its report on Centre-State Relations submitted in 1969 recommended, inter-alia that an Inter-State Council should be constituted under article 263 of the Constitution and that it might consist of the Prime Minister as Chairman and the Union Home Minister, the Union Finance Minister, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and five representatives, one each from the five Zonal Councils, as members. The Commission noted that the phrase 'common interest' occurring in article 263 was a comprehensive one which might be construed to cover problems relating to or arising out of the Constitution, legislative enactments, administration and finance.
RAJAMANNAR COMMITTEE
A Centre-State Relations Inquiry Committee was set up by the then DMK Government of Tamil Nadu on 2nd September,1969 under the Chairmanship of Dr.P.V.Rajamanar to consider the entire question regarding relationship that should subsist between the Centre and the States in a federal set up. The Committee in its report recommended that "the Inter-State Council should be constituted immediately" and that "no decision of national importance or which may affect one or more States should be taken by the Union Government except after consultation with the Inter-State Council". The Committee further recommended that "every Bill of national importance or which is likely to affect the interests of one or more States should, before its introduction in Parliament, be referred to the Inter-State Council and its views thereon should be submitted to Parliament at the time of introduction of the Bill".
NOTIFICATION OF 28TH MAY 1990
New Delhi, the 28th May 1990
G.S.R. 512 (E) - The following Order by the President is published for general information.
Whereas it appears to the President that the public interest would be served by the establishment of an Inter-State Council;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 263 of the Constitution, the President hereby makes the following order, namely: -
Short title and commencement –
(i) This order may be called the Inter-State Council Order, 1990.
(ii) It shall come into force at once.
2. Composition of the Council - There shall be an Inter-State Council (hereinafter referred to as the Council) consisting of the;
Prime Minister;
Chief Ministers of all States -
Chief Ministers of Union territories having a Legislative Assembly and Administrators of Union territories not having a Legislative Assembly;
Six Ministers of Cabinet rank in the Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
(Note: Other Ministers and Ministers of State having independent charge in the Union Government may be invited as and when any item relating to a subject under their charge is to be discussed).
3. Chairman of the Council - The Prime Minister shall be the Chairman of the Council and shall preside over the meetings of the Council:
Provided that when the Prime Minister is unable to preside over any meeting, he may nominate any Union Minister of Cabinet rank to preside over the meeting.
4. Duties of the Council - The Council shall be a recommendatory body and in that capacity, shall perform the following duties, namely -
Investigating and discussing such subjects, in which some or all of the States or the Union and one or more of the States have a common interest, as may be brought up before it;
Making recommendations upon any such subject and in particular recommendations for the better coordination of policy and action with respect to that subject; and
Deliberating upon such other matters of general interest to the States as may be referred by the Chairman to the Council.
5. Procedure of the Council - The Council shall, in the conduct of its business, observe the following procedure, namely: -
The Council shall adopt guidelines for identifying and selecting issues to be brought up before it;
The Council shall meet at least thrice in every year and at such time and place as the Chairman may appoint in this behalf;
The meetings of the Council shall be held in camera;
Ten members (including the Chairman) shall form the quorum for a meeting of the Council;
All questions which may come up for consideration of the Council at a meeting shall be decided by consensus and the decision of the Chairman as to the consensus shall be final - and
The Council shall, in the conduct of its business, observe such other procedure as it may, with the approval of the Central Government, lay down from time to time.
6. Secretariat of the Council - The Council shall have a Secretariat comprising of such officers and staff as the Chairman may think fit to appoint.
R.VENKATARAMAN
President
Camp Shimla,
Dated, the 25th May, 1990
(F.No.IV/11017/3/90-CSR)
NARESH CHANDRA, HOME SECRETARY
CONSTITUTION OF THE INTER-STATE COUNCIL
The Council was set up vide Presidential Order dated 28.5.1990. Para 2 of the Presidential Order provides for the composition of the Council. According to this, the Council shall consist of :-
a) Prime Minister Chairman
b) Chief Ministers of all States Member
c) Chief Ministers of Union Territories having a Member
Legislative Assembly and Administrators of UTs not having a Legislative Assembly and Governors of States under President's Rule (Governor's Rule in the case of J&K)
d) Six Ministers of Cabinet rank in the Member
Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
CONSTITUTION OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE INTER-STATE COUNCIL
In the second meeting of the Council held on 15.10.1996, the Council decided to set up a Standing Committee for continuous consultation and processing of matters for consideration of the Council. Accordingly, a Standing Committee was set up under the Chairmanship of the then Home Minister vide notification dated 5.12.1996.
COMPOSITION OF THE INTER-STATE COUNCIL
1 The Council was last reconstituted vide notification-dated 7.12.2006. The following members of the Union Council of Ministers were nominated by the Prime Minister to be members of the Inter-State Council, in terms of clause 2(d) of the Inter-State Council Order, 1990: -
1
Shri Shivraj V. Patil
Minister of Home Affairs
2
Shri P.Chidambaram
Minister of Finance
3
Shri Sharad Pawar
Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
4
Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav
Minister of Railways
5
Shri T. R. Baalu
Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways
6
Shri H.R. Bhardwaj
Minister of Law & Justice
2 The Prime Minister also approved that the following members of the Union Council of Ministers would be permanent invitees to the Council: -
1
Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Minister of External Affairs
2
Shri Arjun Singh
Minister of Human Resource Development
3
Shri Priyaranjan Dasmunsi
Minister of Information & Broadcasting
4
Shri Ram Vilas Paswan
Minister of Chemicals & Fertilisers and Minister of Steel
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS ON CENTRE-STATE RELATIONS
(Constitution of India can be visited at India Code Information System)
Constitutional provisions on Centre-State relations are contained in Part XI of the Constitution (Articles 245-263). These Articles are reproduced below:
· - LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS
· - ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONS
CHAPTER I - LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS
Distribution of Legislative Powers
245. 245. Extent of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States-
1. 1. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may make laws for the whole or any part of the territory of India, and the Legislature of a State may make laws for the whole or any part of the State.
2. 2. No law made by Parliament shall be deemed to be invalid on the ground that it would have extra-territorial operation.
246. Subject-matter of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States-
1. 1. Notwithstanding anything in clauses (2) and (3), Parliament has exclusive power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List I in the Seventh Schedule (in this Constitution referred to as the "Union List").
2. 2. Notwithstanding anything in clause (3), Parliament, and, subject to clause (1), the Legislature of any State *** also have power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List III in the Seventh Schedule (in this Constitution referred to as the "Concurrent List").
3. 3. Subject to clauses (1) and (2), the Legislature of any State 1. *** Has exclusive power to make laws for such State or any part thereof with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List II in the Seventh Schedule (in this Constitution referred to as the "State List").
4. 4. Parliament has power to make laws with respect to any matter for any part of the territory of India not included2 [in a State] notwithstanding that such matter is a matter enumerated in the State List.
247. Power of Parliament to provide for the establishment of certain additional courts-Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, Parliament may by law provide for the establishment of any additional courts for the better administration of laws made by Parliament or of any existing laws with respect to a matter enumerated in the Union List.
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1. 1. The words and letter "specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule "omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act. 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
2. 2. Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956 s. 29 and Sch... Ibid. For "in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule".
248. 248. Residuary powers of legislation: -
1. 1. Parliament has exclusive power to make any law with respect to any matter not enumerated in the Concurrent List or State List.
2. 2. Such power shall include the power of making any law imposing a tax not mentioned in either of those List.
249. Power of Parliament to legislate with respect to a matter in the State List in the national interest.
1. 1. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, if the Council of States has declared by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest that Parliament should make laws with respect to any matter enumerated in the State List specified in the resolution, it shall be lawful for Parliament to make laws for the whole or any part of the territory of India with respect to that matter while the resolution remains in force.
2. 2. A resolution passed under clause (1) shall remain in force for such period not exceeding one year as may be specified therein: Provided that, if and so often as a resolution approving the continuance in force of any such resolution is passed in the manner provided in clause (1), such resolution shall continue in force for a further period of one year from the date on which under this clause it would otherwise have ceased to be in force.
3. 3. A law made by Parliament which Parliament would not but for the passing of a resolution under clause (1) have been competent to make shall, to the extent of the incompetence, cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of six months after the resolution has ceased to be in force, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the expiration of the said period.
250. 250. Power of Parliament to legislate with respect to any matter in the State List if a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation-
1. 1. Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, Parliament shall, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, have power to make laws for the whole or any part of the territory of India with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List.
2. 2. A law made by Parliament which Parliament would not but for the issue of a Proclamation of Emergency have been competent to make shall, to the extent of the incompetence, cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the expiration of the said period.
251. Inconsistency between laws made by Parliament under articles 249 and 250 and laws made by the legislatures of States-Nothing in articles 249 and 250 shall restrict the power of the Legislature of a State to make any law which under this Constitution it has power to make, but if any provision of a law made by the Legislature of a State is repugnant to any provision of a law made by Parliament which Parliament has under either of the said articles power to make, the law made by Parliament, whether passed before or after the law made by the Legislature of the State, shall prevail, and the law made by the Legislature of the State shall to the extent of the repugnancy, but so long only as the law made by Parliament continuous to have effect, be inoperative.
252. 252. Power of Parliament to legislate for two or more States by consent and adoption of such legislation by any other State-
1. 1. If it appears to the Legislatures of two or more States to be desirable that any of the matters with respect to which Parliament has no power to make laws for the States except as provided in articles 249 and 250 should be regulate in such States by Parliament by law, and if resolutions to that effect are passed by all the Houses of the Legislatures of those States, it shall be lawful for Parliament to pass an Act for regulating that matter accordingly, and any Act so passed shall apply to such States and to any other State by which it is adopted afterwards by resolution passed in that behalf by the House or, where there are two Houses, by each of the Houses of the Legislature of that State.
2. 2. Any Act so passed by parliament may be amended or repealed by an Act of Parliament passed or adopted in like manner but shall not, as respects any State to which it applies, be amended or repealed by an Act of the Legislature of the State.
253. Legislation for giving effect to international agreements-Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, Parliament has power to make any law for the whole or any part of the territory of India for implementing any treaty, agreement or convention with any other country or countries or any decision made at any international conference, association or other body.
254. 254. Inconsistency between laws made by Parliament and laws made by the Legislatures of States-
1. 1. If any provision of a law made by the Legislature of a State is repugnant to any provision of a law made by Parliament which Parliament is competent to enact, or to any provision of an existing law with respect to one of the matters enumerated in the Concurrent List, then, subject to the provisions of clause (2), the law made by Parliament, whether passed before or after the law made by the Legislature of such State, or, as the case may be, the existing law, shall prevail and the law made by the Legislature of the State shall, to the extent of the repugnancy, be void.
2. 2. Where a law made by the legislature of a State *** with respect to one of the matters enumerated in the Concurrent List contains any provision repugnant to the provisions of an earlier law made by Parliament or an existing law with respect to that matter, then, the law so made by the Legislature of such State shall, if it has been reserved for the consideration of the President and has received his assent, prevail in that State:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent Parliament from enacting at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State.
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1. The words and letters "specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule" omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act. 1956, s. 29 and Sch.
255. Requirements as to recommendations and previous sanctions to be regarded as matters of procedure only-
No act of Parliament or of the Legislature of a State 1***, and no provision in any such Act, shall be invalid by reason only that some recommendation or previous sanction required by this Constitution was not given, if assent to that Act was given-
Where the recommendation required was that of the Governor, either by the Governor or by the President;
Where the recommendation required was that of the Rajpramukh, either by the Rajpramukh or by the President;
Where the recommendation or previous sanction required was that of the President, by the President.
CHAPTER II- ADMINSITRATIVE RELATIONS Top
GENERAL
256. Obligation of States and the Union-The executive power of every State shall be so exercised as to ensure compliance with the laws made by the Parliament and any existing laws which apply in that State, and the executive power the Union shall extend to the giving of such directions to a State as may, appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose.
257. Control of the Union over States in certain cases-
1. 1. The executive power of every State shall be so exercised as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of the Union, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of such directions to a State as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose.
2. 2. The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the giving of directions to a State as to the construction and maintenance of means of communication declared in the direction to be of national or military importance: Provided that nothing in the clause shall be taken as restricting the power of Parliament to declare highways or waterways to be national highways or national waterways or the power of the Union with respect to the highways or waterways so declared or the power of the Union to construct and maintain means of communication as part of its functions with respect to naval, military and air force works.
3. 3. The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the giving of directions to a State as to the measures to be taken for the protection of the railways within the State.
4. 4. Where in carrying out any direction given to a State under clause (2) as to the construction or maintenance of any means of communication or under clause (3) as to the measures to be taken for the protection of any railway, costs have been incurred in excess of those which would have been incurred in the discharge of the normal duties of the State if such direction had not been given, there shall be paid by the Government of India to the State such sum as may be agreed, or, in default of agreement, as may be determined by an arbitrator appointed by the Chief Justice of India, in respect of the extra costs so incurred by the State.
*257A. [Assistance to States by deployment of armed forces or other forces of the Union.] Rep. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s.33 (w.e.f. 20.6.1979).
**258. Power of the Union to confer powers, etc., on States in certain cases: -
1. 1. Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may, with the consent of the of the Government of a State, entrust either conditionally or unconditionally to that Government or to its officers functions in relation to any matter to which the executive power of the Union extends.
2. 2. A law made by Parliament which applies in any State may, notwithstanding that it relates to a matter with respect to which the Legislature of the State has no power to make laws, confer powers and impose duties, or authorise the conferring of powers and the imposition of duties, upon the State or officers and authorities thereof.
3. 3. Where by virtue of this article powers and duties have been conferred or imposed upon a State or officers or authorities thereof there shall be paid by the Government of India to the State such sum as may be agreed, or, in default of agreement, as may be determined by an arbitrator appointed by the Chief Justice of India, in respect of any extra costs of administration incurred by the State in connection with the exercise of those powers and duties.
[258A. Power of the States to entrust functions to the Union-Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the Governor of a State may, with the consent of the Government of India, entrust either conditionally or unconditionally to that Government or to its officers functions in relation to any matter to which the exclusive power of the State extends.]
259. [Armed Forces in States in Part B of the First Schedule.] Rep. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956 s.29 and Sch.
260. Jurisdiction of the Union in relation to territories outside India- The Government of India may by agreement with the Government of any territory not being part of the territory of India undertake any executive, legislative or judicial functions vested in the Government of such territory, but every such agreement shall be subject to, and governed by, any law relating to the exercise of foreign jurisdiction for the time being in force.
261. Public acts, records and judicial proceedings-
1. 1. Full faith and credit shall be given throughout the territory of India to public acts, records and judicial proceedings of the Union and of every State.
2. 2. The manner in which and the conditions under which the acts, records and proceedings referred to in clause (1) shall be proved and the effect thereof determined should be as provided by law made by Parliament.
3. 3. Final judgments or orders delivered or passed by civil courts in any part of the territory of India shall be capable of execution anywhere within that territory according to law.
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*1 Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act. 1976, s. 43 (w.e.f. 3.1.1977)
**2 Ins. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 18
Disputes relating to Waters
262. Adjudication of disputes relating to waters of Inter-State River or river valleys-
(1) Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters, of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may by law provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint as is referred to in clause (1).
Co-ordination between States
263. Provisions with respect to an Inter-State Council-If at any time it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of a Council charged with the duty of: -
Inquiring into and advising upon disputes, which may have arisen between States;
Investigating and discussing subjects in which some or all of the States, or the Union and one or more of the States, have a common interest; or
Making recommendations upon any such subject and, in particular, recommendations for the better co-ordination of policy and action with respect to that subject,
It shall be lawful for the President by order to establish such a Council, and to define the nature of the duties to be performed by it and its organisation and procedure.
COMPOSITION OF ZONAL COUNCILS
Five Zonal Councils were set up vide Part-III of the States Re-organisation Act, 1956. The present composition of each of these Zonal Councils is as under:
-The Northern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh;
-The Central Zonal Council, comprising the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh;
-The Eastern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Sikkim and West Bengal;
-The Western Zonal Council, comprising the States of Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli; and
-The Southern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry.
The seven North Eastern States i.e. (i) Assam (ii) Arunachal Pradesh (iii) Manipur (iv) Tripura (v) Mizoram (vi) Meghalaya and (vii) Nagaland are not included in the Zonal Councils and their special problems are looked after by the North Eastern Council, set up under the North Eastern Council Act, 1972.
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