Center-State Relations

Context

The debate over Indian federalism reached a boiling point. Seeking to redefine the constitutional balance of power, the Tamil Nadu government established a high-level committee to examine the structural tensions between the Union and the States.

The Kurian Joseph Committee

The Tamil Nadu government appointed a three-member committee headed by Justice Kurian Joseph (Retd.) to review the current state of Center-State relations.

Objective: To evaluate how recent central policies have impacted state autonomy and to suggest constitutional safeguards.
Findings: The committee’s report warns of a "creeping centralism" that threatens the federal spirit enshrined in the Basic Structure of the Constitution.

Key Friction Points

The report identifies four critical areas where the relationship has become adversarial:

1. The Role of the Governor:

The Issue: Frequent clashes between elected State Cabinets and Governors over the passage of bills and university appointments.
Proposed Reform: The committee suggests providing Governors with security of tenure and ensuring they are politically neutral figures to prevent them from acting as agents of the Union.

2. Financial Autonomy:

Fiscal Federalism: Concerns regarding the biased distribution of resources via the Finance Commission and the increasing reliance on Cesses and Surcharges, which are not shared with the states.
Program Interference: The Center is accused of altering schemes like MGNREGA and NHM without state consultation, despite states bearing significant implementation costs.

3. The Delimitation Deadline:

The "South-North" Divide: Southern states fear that the upcoming Delimitation Commission (based on the next census) will reduce their parliamentary representation because they successfully implemented population control, unlike their northern counterparts.

4. All India Services (AIS):

Recent amendments to cadre management rules have sparked fears that the Center can unilaterally summon IAS/IPS officers, undermining the state’s control over its own administration.

Historical Perspective vs. Modern Reality

1947–1950: A "strong center" was a historical necessity to prevent the fragmentation of a newly independent nation and to manage the aftermath of Partition.
2026 Perspective: The committee argues that while a strong center is still needed for national integrity, the framework is now being used to weaken regional parties and bypass state legislatures on subjects like agriculture, education, and health.

Suggested Reforms

To restore the federal balance, the report advocates for:

Reforming Article 356: Stricter guidelines to prevent the arbitrary dismissal of state governments.
Empowering the Inter-State Council: Transforming it from an advisory body into a robust forum for dispute resolution.
Financial Redesign: Increasing the states' share of the divisible pool of taxes to at least 50% to account for their increasing welfare responsibilities.

Conclusion

The Kurian Joseph Committee report serves as a manifesto for "Cooperative Federalism." It argues that a strong India is not built by a dominant Center, but by strong, autonomous States. As the 2026 Delimitation looms, the recommendations of this committee are likely to form the basis for a national dialogue on constitutional restructuring.

Center-State Relations