TN Government Discontinues High-Level Committee On Union-State Relations Headed By Justice Kurian Joseph

The Tamil Nadu Government, headed by CM Joseph Vijay, has disbanded the High-Level Committee on Union–State Relations headed by Justice Kurian Joseph, which was formed during the tenure of former CM MK Stalin. It may be noted that the committee had submitted Part I of its report earlier this year. 

In April 2025, the Tamil Nadu Government had formed this committee to study the principles related to State autonomy. While addressing the formation of the committee in his assembly speech, then CM Stalin had said that the committee would examine proposals to protect the legitimate rights of the states as provided in the Constitution of India and to strengthen the relationship between the Union and State governments.

By way of a Government Order dated November 6, 2026, issued by the Public (Law & Order, F) Department, the State government has now discontinued the committee. It has been stated that the scope of functions of the High-Level Committee overlaps with that of the State Law Commission, which is why the government has decided to discontinue the committee.

"The High-Level Committee on Union-State Relations is a non-statutory body, examining various issues relating to Union-State relations, has a considerable similarity and overlap in the nature and scope of the functions entrusted to the Tamil Nadu State Law Commission. Therefore, after careful consideration, the Government have decided to discontinue the services of the High-Level Committee with immediate effect," the GO states.

The state has also informed the Secretary and Committee officer of the High-Level Committee to hand over all relevant records to the State Law Commission. 

"The Secretary and Committee Officer Of the High-Level Committee on Union-State Relations is directed to hand over all the records and relevant papers to the Tamil Nadu State Law Commission immediately and to communicate this order to all concerned and report compliance to the Government," the GO said.

In Part I of its report, the committee had recommended mandatory timelines for Governors to act on State Bills and a categorical rejection of the “One Nation, One Language” approach. The committee had also proposed structural changes across constitutional amendments, territorial reorganisation, elections, education, health, delimitation and the GST regime.