(Sample Material) Gist of Important Articles from IIPA Journal
Topic: Indian Federalism at Work: Role of Governor Sudhanshu Tripathi
This article presents the actual working of federalism in India since Independence and also discusses the role of Governors which has assumed great significance in view of the recent Supreme Court judgement in the Bihar Assembly dissolution case (January 24,2006) and also other factors adversely affecting our federalism. Lastly it suggests some proposals for reforming the gubernatorial institution and also federal relations in India.
The Journey of Indian Federalism
In order to understand the nature of Indian federalism, the meaning of federalism should be understood. Federalism refers, to a political system wherein the Central government and constituent states jointly share the powers of ‘government within their respective areas distributed between them under the- supreme authority of Constitution. It is a pragmatic political organization aimed at maintaining a compromise between the states which wish to come together under the authority of union and at the same time retain their autonomy, diversity and identity.
This political contrivance was first created in 18th century in USA where the 13 erstwhile British colonies, as independent units then, signed a memorandum to form a new political union known as the USA. Since then, so many such unions have been formed in Canada, Australia, USSR and Yugoslavia (prior 19 their disintegration), South Africa, India, Austria, Switzerland, etc. Another feature of a federal union to be kept in mind is that besides the constitutional distribution of powers between the Centre and constituent units, there are extra constitutional factors determining the Centre state relationship. The most Important of such factors is the feeling of security and unity among people constituting a federation for national integration against the global menace of terrorism threatening the very existence of humanity. Evil effects of globalisation are causing extreme economic disparity between rich and poor and excessive marginalization of least developed countries. All these have broken the peaceful social fabric of societies and have triggered social tensions, violence, insurgency, civil wars, etc thereby demanding strong unions for the sake of national integration, India is no exception in this regard, with its wide diversities of race, caste, religion language, geographical and climatic differences, territorial area of sub-continental size .and huge population. India presents a very complex structure, The existence of numerous groups, with diverese legitimate interests within the political system, left no alternative for the founding fathers of the Constitution but to opt for a federal setup. For, it provides for a Central government for the sake of uniformity in policy in national interest and also permits enough freedom to constituent governments where diversity is required and feasible.
