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UPSC Polity Notes

Punchhi
Committee

Punchhi Committee: Polity Notes for UPSC Exams

The Punchhi Commission was established to examine new concerns of Center-State relations, taking
into account the changes that have occurred in India's polity and economy since the Sarkaria Commission
last looked at the subject almost two decades ago.
The Punchhi Commission Report is part of the UPSC Indian Polity and Governance Syllabus, which is
discussed in this article. All these dimensions are important for competitive examinations like IAS,IPS,IFS
etc. Considering this, the Testbook provides the best quality notes for UPSC Exams. Study major topics
of Indian Polity from the perspective of UPSC Exams.

What is the Punchhi Commission?

• Punchhi Commission on Center-State Relations was constituted by the Government of India
under the chairmanship of Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi, former Chief Justice of India on 27
April 2007 to look into the new issues of Centre-State relations.
• It was formed keeping in view the changes that have taken place in the polity and economy of
India since the Sarkaria Commission had last looked at the issue of Centre-State relations over
two decades ago.
• The Commission examined and reviewed the working of the existing arrangements between the
Union and States, various pronouncements of the Courts in regard to powers, functions and
responsibilities in all spheres including legislative relations, administrative relations and role of
governors.
• Besides, Panchayati Raj institutions, emergency provisions, financial relations, economic and
social planning, sharing of resources including inter-state river water etc.
• The Commission made 273 recommendations in its seven volume report presented to the
Government on 30 March 2010.

Punchhi Commission: Historical Background

• The Government of India constituted a Commission on Centre-State Relations under the
chairmanship of Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi.
• Aim: To examined and reviewed the working of the existing arrangements between the Union and
States, various pronouncements of the Courts in regard to powers, functions and responsibilities
in all spheres including legislative relations, administrative relations, role of governors, emergency
provisions, financial relations, economic and social planning, Panchayati Raj institutions, sharing
of resources including inter-state river water etc."
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• It was established on 27th of April, 2007.

Aims and Objectives of the Punchhi Commission

• To examine what could be the role, responsibility and jurisdiction of the Centre during major and
prolonged outbreaks of communal violence, caste violence or any other social conflicts.
• To review other aspects of Centre-States relations including taxes and linking of rivers.
• To examine whether there is a need to set up a Central law enforcement agency to take up suo
motu investigation of crimes having inter-State or international ramifications with serious
implications on national security.
• To study the feasibility of supporting legislation under Article 355 for the purpose of suo motu
deployment of Central forces in the States if and when the situation demanded.
• To study the role, responsibility and jurisdiction of the Centre vis-à-vis States in promoting
effective devolution of powers and autonomy to Panchayati Raj institutions and local bodies.
• To promote the concept and concept of independent planning and budgeting at the district level
and linking Central assistance of various kinds with the performance of the States.
• To study the need and relevance of separate taxes for freeing inter-state trade to establish a
unified domestic market.
• To examine the role of Governors, emergency provisions, financial relations, economic and social
planning, Panchayati Raj institutions and sharing of resources, including inter-State river waters.

Major responsibilities of the Punchhi Commission

• The key study point of the M.M. Punchhi Commission was to examine the possibility of giving
‘sweeping powers’ to the Central Government to deploy union forces in the states and investigate
criminal matters affecting national security.
• To inspect the possible role, obligations, jurisdiction and responsibilities of the Center during
major communal violence conflagration like violence and other social societal conflicts.
• To find out if there is a need for setting up a “Central Law Enforcement Agency” to take the criminal
matters up that are of national, interstate or international importance. Or matters that have
implications on national security.
• To look into the practicality of deploying central forces in the state whenever needed wherein the
Centre takes suo moto cognizance of the matters.
• To study the Centre’s responsibilities and obligations towards the states in the efficient delegation
of power and autonomy to the Panchayati Raj institutions and other establishments which are
considered local government bodies.
• To examine matters pertaining to the Centre-State relations. These should include matters like
taxation and linking of rivers.
• To encourage independent budgeting and planning at the district level. To create a link between
Central assistance of States and the performance of the States.
• To study the roles and responsibilities and the removal procedures with respect to Governors.
• To establish unified domestic marketing by examining the relevance of separate taxes for freeing
the inter-state trade.

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Significant Punchhi Recommendation For UPSC Exams

Union’s Treaty making Power

• According to the commission's recommendations, the union's treaty-making power should be
limited to treaties involving topics on the State list. States will have more representation in their
internal affairs this way.
• The Commission determined that nations should be more involved in treaties that are drafted in
response to their concerns. This will ensure that the many levels of government can coexist
peacefully.

Communal Violence Bill

• As per the Commission's recommendation, there should be an amendment in the Communal
Violence Bill, as per which the Centre will have the right to deploy its forces in the State without
the consent of the State for a limited period of time.
• Such deployment of forces can last only for a week and after that week 'post-facto' consent should
be taken from the state.

Article 355 and Article 356

• The report also advised that Article 355 and Article 356 of the Constitution should be amended.
• The recommendation seeks to protect States' interest by curbing the centre's misuse of powers.
• It specified that the Centre should rather than bring the whole state under emergency, bring only
the troubled area under its jurisdiction.
• The time period of an emergency should be more than three months.

Concurrent List
• The Commission recommended that the States should be consulted through the inter-state
council before bills are introduced on matters that fall in the concurrent list.
• In the context of National Integration Council
• It recommended the creation of a superseding structure for matters relating to internal security.
This structure could be known as the National Integration Council'.
• Further it recommended that this council should have at least one annual meeting and that a five
member delegation of the Council must, within a period of two days, visit any communally affected
area.

President Pocket Veto Power

A provision should be made according to which the President's decision to exercise his Pocket Veto
Power is communicated within a period of six months to the respective State.

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