Option 1 : (a) is not true
The correct answer is (a) is not true
Rajamannar Committee:
- In 1969, the Tamil Nadu Government (DMK) appointed a three-member committee under the chairmanship of Dr P.V. Rajamannar to examine the entire question of Centre-state relations and to suggest amendments to the Constitution so as to secure utmost autonomy for the states. Hence, statement (a) is incorrect.
- The committee submitted its report to the Tamil Nadu Government in 1971.
- The Committee identified the reasons for the prevailing unitary trends (tendencies of centralisation) in the country. They include:
- certain provisions in the Constitution which confer special powers on the Centre;
- one-party rule both at the Centre and in the states;
- inadequacy of states’ fiscal resources and consequent dependence on the Centre for financial assistance; and
- the institution of Central planning and the role of the Planning Commission.
The important recommendations of the committee are as follows:
- An Inter-State Council should be set up immediately;
- Finance Commission should be made a permanent body; Hence, statement (c) is correct.
- Planning Commission should be disbanded and its place should be taken by a statutory body;
- Articles 356, 357 and 365 (dealing with President’s Rule) should be totally omitted;
- The provision that the state ministry holds office during the pleasure of the governor should be omitted;
- Certain subjects of the Union List and the Concurrent List should be transferred to the State List;
- the residuary powers should be allocated to the states; and
- All-India Services (IAS, IPS and IFS) should be abolished. Hence, statement (b) is correct.
- The Central government completely ignored the recommendations of the Rajamannar Committee.