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Revival of inter-state council on cards

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The Inter-State Council, a recommendatory body to investigate and discuss subjects of common interest between the Centre and states or among the states for better coordination of policy and action, is likely to be revived by the Modi government.

Senior government officials told dna that the prime minister is very keen to have a seamless coordination between the Centre and the states and among states to sort out differences and evolve consensus and is expected to use the already established but defunct structure of Inter-State Council.

Established on the recommendations of Justice Sarkaria Commission in 1990 under Article 263 of the Constitution as an independent national forum with prime minister as chairman, the Inter-State Council – a vibrant body during 5 year tenure of National democratic Alliance (NDA) government had virtually become dysfunctional during UPA's tenure.

As against four meetings of Inter-State Council during NDA's regime, the UPA tenure saw only two of its meetings getting held – in 2005 and 2006 – thus leaving a wonderful structure having a full secretariat woefully neglected.

In his second term, prime minister Manmohan Singh tried to revive the Council by reconstituting it in December 2012 but could take it forward and the Council's secretariat failed to convene a single meeting.

"Home minister Rajnath Singh's keen observation that better coordination is the key to resolve problems and differences between the Centre and the States and among states on various issues is also an indication to revive the Inter-State Council whose secretariat is doing nothing for past several years," a senior home ministry official said.

Officials claim that if used in a dynamic manner, the IS Council can come handy in resolving disputes like on sharing of river water, tax issues such as Goods and Service Tax, disaster management preparedness, evolving good governance practices and a plethora of issues like legislative relations, role of governor, All India services, mine and minerals that Justice Sarkaria commission had dwelt upon.

"With all the chief ministers coming on table prime minister as the chairman and key cabinet ministers as permanent members, the Council can resolve even contentious issues through deliberations. Had the Inter State Council been working it could have come handy in resolving contentious issue of Telangana and it would have solved much early and easily and with lesser amount of violence and bad blood," a senior official said.

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