CM Stalin Establishes Committee Under Retired SC Judge to Review Centre-State Relations
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Synopsis
Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin has established a committee led by retired Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph to evaluate and propose enhancements to Centre-State relations, including the return of education to the State List of the Constitution. The committee will report its findings by January 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Formation of a high-level committee.
- Led by Justice Kurian Joseph.
- Focus on enhancing Centre-State relations.
- Propose returning education to State List.
- Interim report due by January 2026.
Chennai, April 15 (NationPress) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced the creation of a high-level committee led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph to investigate and propose strategies to enhance Centre-State relations, including the suggestion to revert education to the State List of the Constitution.
During his address in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, CM Stalin stated that the committee is expected to present its interim report by January 2026 and a final report within two years.
The three-member committee will also comprise former IAS officer Ashok Vardhan Shetty and Professor Naganathan, who previously served as the Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Commission.
This committee will conduct a thorough examination of the Indian Constitution and will review past recommendations from various expert panels regarding Centre-State dynamics—starting with the Rajamannar Committee Report of 1971 and extending to the M.M. Punchhi Commission report of 2004.
CM Stalin emphasized that Tamil Nadu has a rich history of championing constitutional values and federal principles, asserting that the committee’s efforts will benefit not only the state but also others—from Gujarat to the Northeast and from Kashmir to Kerala.
The Chief Minister referenced the insights of Dr. R. Ambedkar and James Madison, one of the framers of the US Constitution, to highlight the significance of strong federalism and the necessity for empowered, autonomous state governments within a cohesive national framework.
This initiative is particularly important amidst the ongoing tensions between the DMK-led state administration and the BJP-led Central government, especially concerning contentious matters like the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which the Tamil Nadu government has persistently contested.
Furthermore, it comes in the wake of recent conflicts between the Chief Minister and Governor R.N. Ravi, who was recently criticized by the Supreme Court for unnecessarily delaying his approval on several state bills, some of which had been pending for over five years. Among these were ten essential university-related legislations, which were ultimately considered to have received assent under Constitutional provisions following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
