A Centre-State Relations Inquiry Committee was set up by the then DMK Government of Tamil Nadu on 2nd September, 1969 under the Chairmanship of Dr. P.V. Rajamanar to consider the entire question regarding relationship that should subsist between the Centre and the States in a federal set up.
- The Committee in its report recommended that “the Inter-State Council should be constituted immediately” and that “no decision of national importance or which may affect one or more States should be taken by the Union Government except after consultation with the Inter-State Council”.
- The Committee further recommended that “every Bill of national importance or which is likely to affect the interests of one or more States should, before its introduction in Parliament, be referred to the Inter-State Council and its views thereon should be submitted to Parliament at the time of introduction of the Bill”.
- It recommended a curb on the use of article 356 of the Constitution and suggested that article 356 should be used only in the event of complete breakdown of law and order in a state.
- The committee favored the vesting of residuary power of legislation and taxation in the state legislature.
However the above recommended were completely ignored by the union government.