- The Rajamannar Committee was a committee set up by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1969 to recommend changes to the relationship between the Centre and the States in India.
- The committee was chaired by Dr. P. V. Rajamannar, a former Chief Justice of India.
The committee submitted its report in 1971. The report made a number of recommendations, including:
- Readjustment of the Seventh Schedule: The committee recommended that the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution be readjusted to give the states greater powers over certain subjects, such as agriculture, education, and health.
- Transfer of residuary powers to the states: The committee recommended that the residuary powers be transferred to the states. This means that the states would have the power to legislate on any matter not specifically mentioned in the Constitution.
- Abolition of All-India Services: The committee recommended that the All-India Services be abolished. These services are a group of elite civil servants who are recruited and managed by the central government. The committee argued that the All-India Services were an obstacle to the development of a truly federal system in India.
- Establishment of an Inter-State Council: The committee recommended that an Inter-State Council be established. This council would be made up of representatives of the states and the central government. The council would be responsible for resolving disputes between the states and the central government.
- Amendment of Article 356: Article 356 of the Constitution gives the President the power to dismiss a state government and impose President’s Rule. The committee recommended that Article 356 be amended to make it more difficult for the President to dismiss a state government.
The recommendations of the Rajamannar Committee were not implemented by the central government. However, the committee’s report is still considered to be an important contribution to the debate on federalism in India.