Inter-State Council: What is Inter-State Council and why is Tamil Nadu CM Stalin in discussion for this?

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the letter, he has requested the Prime Minister to convene three meetings of the Inter-State Council every year. Stalin wrote that the national level bill should also be placed in the meeting of the Inter-State Council before it is introduced in the Parliament. In such a situation, the question arises that what is the Inter-State Council and what does it do?

The Inter-State Council has been constituted to bring about harmony between the Central Government and the State Government. This council works under Article 263 of the Constitution. Which means the President has the right to form such a council whenever needed. The job of this council is to act like a forum where different governments interact.

In 1988, the Sarkaria Commission had recommended the formation of a permanent Inter-State Council, after which in 1990 the President approved this council by issuing an order. The object of this council is to investigate disputes between states, to advise and to investigate and discuss matters which are in the interest of the states. Apart from this, it is also the goal of this council to make recommendations for taking policies and actions.

The Prime Minister is the chairman of the Inter-State Council. Its members include the chief ministers of states and union territories and administrators of other union territories. Six ministers of cabinet rank are also its members in the Council of Ministers of the Center nominated by the Prime Minister.

Now know the reason why Stalin wrote a letter to PM Modi. Stalin says that regular meetings of the council are not being held. The meeting was held only once in the last 6 years. This has not been possible since July 2016.