Co-ordination between States or Inter-State relations

Co-ordination between States or Inter-State relations comes under Part 11 of the Indian constitution in article 263. The Supreme Court, having exclusive jurisdiction over disputes between states, article 262 provides an additional tribunal for the award of a class of such a dispute, while the article 263 provides for the prevention of inter-state disputes by an administrative body through investigations and recommendations.

• Click here to read Part 11 of the Indian Constitution

Inter-state Council:

The Inter-State Council is a constitutional body which has been recommended by the Sarkaria Commission on May 28, 1990, on the basis of provisions in Article 263 of the Constitution of India. Article 263 of the Constitution envisages establishing an institutional mechanism for facilitating coordination and implementation of policies between the Central and State Governments.

The inter-state council is NOT a permanent constitutional body for coordination between the states and union government. It can be established ‘at any time’ if it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of such a council.

Under Article 263:

• Inter-State Council is a constitutional body to facilitate coordination between States and the Center.
• Examining and discussing those issues, including some or all of the state, or union and one or more than one state, have a common interest.
• Recommendations for better coordination of policy and action in relation to such subject and, in particular, about that subject.

Recommendations by the committee of Interstate council:

• The Standing Committee of the Interstate Council is constituted under the chairmanship of the Union Home Minister.
• The committee consists of 5 Union Cabinet Ministers and 9 Chief Ministers.
• Prime Minister is the Chairman of the Interstate Council.
• Decentralization of powers to the states as much as possible.

The main functions of the Standing Committee include:

Monitoring the implementation of decisions taken on the recommendations of Interstate Council. To process all matters relating to Centre-StateRelations before they are taken up for consideration in the inter-State Council.