Inter-State Relations

Introduction

• Inter-State Relations refer to the constitutional, administrative, legislative and financial mechanisms governing the relationship between States and between the Union and the States.
• The Constitution provides various institutions and mechanisms to promote cooperation, resolve disputes, and maintain federal harmony.

Constitutional Provisions

Resolution of Inter-State Disputes

Judicial Mechanism – Article 131

Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

Under Article 131, the Supreme Court has Exclusive Original Jurisdiction over disputes involving:

• Union vs One or More States
• Union & One or More States vs Other State(s)
• One State vs Another State

Conditions

The dispute must involve:

• A Question of Law, or
• A Question of Fact on which the existence or extent of a Legal Right depends.

Examples

• Boundary disputes
• Taxation disputes
• Distribution of powers
• Constitutional interpretation between States

Inter-State River Water Disputes

Constitutional Provision

• Governed by Article 262.

Parliamentary Power

Parliament may provide:

• Adjudication of disputes relating to Inter-State Rivers.
• Exclusion of jurisdiction of Courts, including the Supreme Court.

Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956

Enacted under Article 262.

Purpose

• To establish Water Disputes Tribunals for resolving river water disputes between States.

Important Amendment

• Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Act, 2019 (yet to be fully operational through notification) aims to:
  
  • Establish a Permanent Tribunal.
  • Create multiple Benches for different disputes.
  • Ensure time-bound adjudication.

Major River Water Disputes

• Cauvery – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherry
• Krishna – Maharashtra, Karnataka & Telangana/Andhra Pradesh
• Godavari
• Ravi-Beas
• Mahadayi (Mandovi)
• Mahanadi
• Vamsadhara

Jurisdiction of Courts

Where Parliament provides under Article 262:

• Jurisdiction of all Courts, including the Supreme Court, may be excluded for specified river water disputes.

Exam Note: This exclusion applies only to disputes covered under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, not to every water-related issue.

Inter-State Council (ISC)

Constitutional Provision

• Article 263

Establishment

• Constituted in 1990 based on the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission.

Nature

• Constitutional Advisory Body

Chairperson

• Prime Minister

Functions

• Investigate and discuss Inter-State disputes.
• Promote Coordination between the Union and States.
• Recommend measures for Cooperative Federalism.
• Discuss matters of Common National Interest.

Zonal Councils

Introduction

• Zonal Councils are Statutory Bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
• They promote Cooperation, Coordination, and Regional Development among States.

Objectives

• Resolve Inter-State Issues
• Promote Regional Cooperation
• Improve Economic Planning
• Strengthen National Integration
• Discuss issues relating to:
  
  • Border disputes
  • Transport
  • Security
  • Infrastructure
  • Economic Development

Number of Zonal Councils

There are Five Zonal Councils.

1. Northern Zonal Council

Headquarters: New Delhi

Member States / UTs

• Haryana
• Himachal Pradesh
• Punjab
• Rajasthan
• National Capital Territory of Delhi
• Union Territory of Chandigarh
• Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir
• Union Territory of Ladakh

2. Central Zonal Council

Headquarters: Prayagraj (Allahabad)

Member States

• Chhattisgarh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Uttarakhand
• Uttar Pradesh

3. Eastern Zonal Council

Headquarters: Kolkata

Member States

• Bihar
• Jharkhand
• Odisha
• West Bengal

4. Western Zonal Council

Headquarters: Mumbai

Member States / UTs

• Goa
• Gujarat
• Maharashtra
• Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu

5. Southern Zonal Council

Headquarters: Chennai

Member States / UTs

• Andhra Pradesh
• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Tamil Nadu
• Telangana
• Puducherry

Important: The North Eastern Council (NEC) is not a Zonal Council. It is a separate statutory body established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971.

North Eastern Council (NEC)

The North Eastern Council is not one of the Zonal Councils.

Established

• 1971

Nature

• Statutory Body

Headquarters

• Shillong

Members

• Assam
• Arunachal Pradesh
• Manipur
• Meghalaya
• Mizoram
• Nagaland
• Sikkim
• Tripura

Chairperson

• Union Home Minister

Composition of Zonal Councils

Each Zonal Council consists of:

Chairman

• Union Home Minister (Common Chairman of all Zonal Councils)

Vice-Chairman

• Chief Minister of one of the Member States, by annual rotation.

Members

• Chief Ministers of Member States
• Two Ministers from each State
• Administrators / Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories

Advisers

• Chief Secretaries
• Development Commissioners
• Senior Officials

Functions of Zonal Councils

Coordination

• Promote coordination among States.

Dispute Resolution

Discuss issues relating to:

• Boundary disputes
• Water sharing
• Transport
• Law & Order

Regional Development

• Infrastructure
• Agriculture
• Trade
• Tourism

National Integration

• Promote Unity and Cooperative Federalism.

Inter-State Council vs Zonal Councils

Inter-State River Water Tribunal vs Supreme Court

Important Constitutional Articles