In the rest of the areas, the same elected state government would continue undisturbed: “The clarification as suggested at 4.6.02 above may also include a suitable provision allowing the imposition of the Central rule in a limited affected area, of the state, may be a municipality or a district.” Similar provisions are available in some other federations such as Australia and the United States. It recommended adopting “Localised Emergency provisions” under Article 355, bringing a district or even part of a district under the Central rule. The last we heard about the file was that it was discussed by the Inter-State Council’s Standing Committee (ISC) in its meetings in April 2017, November 2017 and May 2018. Had the NDA government, which had an overwhelming majority in Parliament pursued the recommendations, we could have tackled many such issues like the Kuki-Meitei clashes or Maoist menace in some parts of the country in a more effective manner. The UPA government could not introduce constitutional changes recommended by the Punchhi Commission although it remained in office for another four years. The Commission submitted its report on March 31, 2010. Their Fifth Task Force studied criminal justice, national security and Centre-state cooperation. The Commission set up eight task forces to examine the Centre-state relations in depth. Item 2(k) of their charter was: “The feasibility of a supporting legislation under Article 355 for the purpose of suo motu deployment of Central forces in the States if and when the situation so demands.” On April 27, 2007, the UPA government constituted the Second Commission on Inter-state Relations under the chairmanship of Justice (retired) Madan Mohan Punchhi, former Chief Justice of India with eminent persons like the late N R Madhava Menon, former director, National Judicial Academy, Bhopal as members. An important file lying dormant with the Ministry of Home Affairs since 2010 could perhaps have provided a political solution to the current impasse in Manipur, and reduced violence.
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