Question
Describe the work of the States Reorganisation Commission.
Answer
The States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) was formed in 1953 in order to identify the state boundaries in the post-independence period of India. The commission was needed to determine the boundaries of the different Indian states, which were divided into four categories – Part A, B, C, and D. The SRC was chaired by Fazal Ali, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India.
In its report, the SRC made four observations. Firstly, the three-tier system of states (Parts A, B, and C) would be removed. Secondly, the institution of ‘Rajpramukh’ and special agreements with former princely states should be abolished. Thirdly, the general control vested in the Government of India by Article 371 would have to be removed. Fourthly, Andaman and Nicobar, Delhi, and Manipur would remain Union Territories, while other parts of C and D territories would have to be merged with the adjoining states.
