Politics · India · 6 hrs ago
Former officials urge Vijay to revive Union-State relations panel
Seventy-two former civil servants have urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to revive a panel on Union-State relations.
The High-Level Committee, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Kurian Joseph, was discontinued by the State government, and its unfinished work was transferred to the State Law Commission.
The committee was preparing Part II of a report on how power and responsibilities are shared between the Union and the States.
Its planned subjects include emergency powers, river-water disputes, local government, climate change and financial relations.
The group says the committee had already done substantial research and that moving the work could mean lost knowledge, inconsistent analysis and delays.
It argues that a non-statutory committee can still study federal relations, pointing to earlier commissions and committees set up by executive orders.
The former officials want the committee’s original mandate restored, but no government response or decision on their request is given.
The Constitutional Conduct Group urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to restore the original mandate of the High-Level Committee on Union-State Relations.
The group said the committee should complete Part II of its report, which covers major areas of federal functioning.
It criticised the State government’s decision to discontinue the committee and transfer Part II’s preparation to the State Law Commission.
The group said the transfer could cause delays and a loss of institutional knowledge.
Its open letter was signed by 72 former civil servants.
- Who
- The Constitutional Conduct Group, a collective of former civil servants, urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to act.
- What
- The group asked the government to restore the original mandate of the High-Level Committee on Union-State Relations so it can complete Part II of its report.
- When
- The group’s open letter was reported on November 14, 2026.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- The group said Part II addresses important federal issues and warned that transferring the work could cause delays and a loss of institutional knowledge.
Constitutional Conduct Group
Tamil Nadu government
Committee mandate
Constitutional Conduct Group
The group urged the government to restore the High-Level Committee’s original mandate and let it complete Part II.
Tamil Nadu government
The government discontinued the committee and transferred preparation of Part II to the State Law Commission.
Non-statutory status
Constitutional Conduct Group
The group said there is no bar on a non-statutory body examining Union-State relations.
Tamil Nadu government
The government contended that the committee was non-statutory.
The State government discontinued the High-Level Committee chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph.
The government transferred the task of preparing Part II from the High-Level Committee to the State Law Commission.
The Constitutional Conduct Group’s open letter urging the government to restore the committee’s original mandate was reported.
- Signatories
- 72 former civil servants
- Committee chair
- Justice Kurian Joseph, a former Supreme Court judge
- Report
- Part I had been widely appreciated, according to the group
- Part II subjects
- Emergency provisions, disaster management, river-water disputes, local government and other federal issues
- Transferred task
- Preparation of Part II was assigned to the State Law Commission
- Open letter reported
- November 14, 2026
What people are saying
We trust that your government will affirm its commitment to a strong federal democracy, with devolution of powers to local government institutions.
There is no bar on a non-statutory body undertaking an inquiry into Centre-State relations and suggesting measures for a healthier and more responsive federal structure.
There is every likelihood of a loss of institutional knowledge acquired through the HLC’s research efforts and inconsistencies in constitutional interpretation and analytical approach.