National Commission to review the working of the Constitution
The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution was set up by Government Resolution dated 22 February, 2000 under the Chairmanship of Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah. The terms of reference stated that the Commission shall examine, in the light of the experience of the past 50 years, as to how best the Constitution can respond to the changing needs of efficient, smooth and effective system of governance and socio-economic development of modern India within the framework of Parliamentary democracy, and to recommend changes, if any, that are required in the provisions of the Constitution without interfering with its basic structure or features. The Commission submitted its report in two volumes to the Government on 31st March, 2002.
The Commission felt that article 263 of the Constitution has vast potential and the same has not been fully utilized for resolving various problems concerning more than one State. The Commission observed that where a treaty is entered into by the Union Government concerning a matter in the State List vitally affecting the interests of the States no prior consultation is made with them. The Commission recommended that the forum of Inter-State Council could be very well utilized for discussion of policy matters involving more than one State and arriving at a decision expeditiously.
Report of the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution