Fix Timelines For Governors, Abandon 'One Nation, One Language': Kurian Joseph Committee Suggests Federal Reforms

The High-Level Committee on Union–State Relations headed by Justice Kurian Joseph, formed by the Tamil Nadu Government, has submitted its report, proposing wide-ranging constitutional and institutional reforms aimed at correcting what it describes as a steady erosion of State autonomy.Among its main recommendations are mandatory timelines for Governors to act on State Bills and a categorical rejection of the “One Nation, One Language” approach. However, the report goes much further, proposing structural changes across constitutional amendments, territorial reorganisation, elections, education, health, delimitation and the GST regime.It was in April 2025 that the Tamil Nadu Government formed this committee to study the principles related to State autonomy.M. Ashok Vardhan Shetty, retired IAS officer; and Professor M. Naganathan, former Vice Chairman of the State Planning Commission were the other members of the committee led by Justice Joseph. Justice Joseph accepted the position without taking any remuneration.Creeping centralisationThe Justice Kurian Joseph Committee has raised serious concerns about what it describes as a sustained and creeping centralisation of power in India's constitutional framework. In its report on Union–State relations, the Committee argues that federalism in India is being gradually weakened not through dramatic constitutional rupture, but through incremental institutional, legislative and administrative shifts that cumulatively erode State autonomy.The Committee emphasises that federalism is not merely an abstract division of legislative lists but a lived constitutional reality affecting language, public services, healthcare, taxation and democratic representation. It recalls that in S.R. Bommai v. Union of India, the Supreme Court declared federalism part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution. Despite this, it observes that constitutional practice has increasingly treated federalism as a matter of administrative convenience rather than principle.A major structural concern identified by the Committee is the flexibility of the constitutional amendment process under Article 368, which, it argues, allows significant alterations to the federal balance without robust State ratification or public consultation. It also flags Parliament's unilateral power under Article 3 to reorganise State boundaries as inconsistent with the idea of States as secure constitutional units in a federation.The Committee expresses concern over gubernatorial overreach, including delays in assent to State Bills and intervention in government formation, as well as the push toward linguistic homogenisation under the “One Nation, One Language” narrative. It warns that centralisation in education, health policy and the GST framework has constrained State fiscal and administrative space.Citing Union of India v. Mohit Minerals Pvt. Ltd., it reiterates that GST Council recommendations are advisory, yet argues that fiscal practice has tilted towards Union dominance.The major recommendation are as follows :Time-Bound Assent To State BillsA central focus of the report is reform of the Governor's office.The Committee recommends amending Articles 200 and 201 to impose strict timelines on gubernatorial action:Governors must act on State Bills within 15 days.If a Bill is re-passed, assent must be granted within a further 15 days.Deemed assent should operate if these timelines are not complied with.Reservation of Bills for the President should be confined to limited cases of repugnancy.Before reserving a Bill, the Governor must obtain a written legal opinion and communicate reasons within 60 days.Neither the Governor nor the President should exercise an executive veto over duly enacted State legislation.The recommendations draw from the Supreme Court's ruling in State of Tamil Nadu v. Governor of Tamil Nadu.Curb on Governor's powers The Committee raised concerns over the abuse of the office of the Governor. It observed :"The office of the Governor, conceived as a neutral constitutional link between the Union and the States, has increasingly departed from its intended role. Each episode of gubernatorial overreach—manipulating government formation or collapse, refusing to summon the Assembly, withholding or indefinitely delaying assent, publicly criticising an elected government, or turning Raj Bhavan into a partisan outpost of the ruling dispensation at the Union—erodes confidence in the institution."The Committee proposes:Appointment of Governors from a panel of three names approved by the State Legislative Assembly.A single, fixed, non-renewable five-year term.Removal only through a resolution of the State Assembly.A new Thirteenth Schedule laying down binding instructions to limit discretionary powers.Clear norms for government formation, mandatory floor tests within seven days, and prohibition on delaying or manipulating Assembly sessions.Deletion of Article 176 relating to the Governor's special address.Divesting...

Fix Timelines For Governors, Abandon 'One Nation, One Language': Kurian Joseph Committee Suggests Federal Reforms

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The panel suggested a freeze on delimitation till 2126.

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