Rajamannar Committee
Topic: Federalism and Centre-State Relations · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Federalism"
Meaning
The Rajamannar Committee was set up in 1969 by Tamil Nadu's DMK government to review centre-state relations. It reported in 1971. It is a key example of the demand for state autonomy, which means more power for states inside the Union. It asked for:
- an Inter-State Council;
- residuary powers for states (power over subjects not in any list);
- deletion of Articles 356-357 (President's rule);
- more financial freedom for states.
Example
The committee wanted Articles 356-357 removed so that the Centre could not dismiss an elected state government through President's rule.
Don't confuse with
- Sarkaria Commission: set up by the Union in 1983. It did not want major structural change. Rajamannar was a state committee and asked for deep changes.