Don't accept Governor's recommendation to impose President rule: AP to Centre

The TDP government in Andhra Pradesh, an ally of the ruling NDA, today said the central government should not accept the recommendation of a Governor to impose President's rule in any state.

Addressing the Standing Committee meeting of the Inter-State Council, Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said such a decision was necessary for protecting the federal system in the country.

"It has been requested not to accept the recommendation relating to imposition of local emergency under Articles-355 and 356 of the Constitution of India as the same is against principles of federalism," said Ramakrishnudu, who deputised for Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

He said as regards the role of Governor, it was suggested that one month's time is given to the Governor for giving his assent to a bill or making reference to the President wherever required as against the time limit of six months recommended by the M M Punchhi Commission.

He said the recommendations relating to providing a fixed tenure to Governors and their impeachment was not necessary.

The minister said as regards fixing eligibility criteria for selection of Governors, it was specifically suggested that retired bureaucrats and judges should have a minimum cooling off period before which they are considered for Governorship.

Ramakrishnudu suggested suggested the Standing Committee meetings of the Inter-State Council be mandatorily held at least three times a year.

"It was further suggested that the treaty-making powers of Union government, whenever they are impinging on the jurisdiction of states, the state governments concerned should invariably be consulted and any financial loss/burden be compensated," he said.

The AP Finance Minister said for assenting a Bill that has been referred to the President, a time limit of three months should be fixed.

Regarding the recommendation for creation of more All India Services, he said each state should form its own administrative/developmental services to man the departments of health, education, etc.

He said the Punchhi Commission's recommendation relating to equal representation to all states in the Rajya Sabha was against the interest of larger states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat etc.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting, while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his Odisha, Tripura and Chhattisgarh counterparts Naveen Patnaik, Manik Sarkar and Raman Singh attended it.

Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, who are also members of the committee, did not attend the meeting and sent their representatives.