FMs of five states to submit memorandum to President today
16 May 2018 4:27 PM GMT
New Delhi: In the midst of ongoing high voltage drama over government formation in Karnataka, a delegation of five Finance Ministers of non-BJP ruled states would call on President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday to submit a memorandum seeking changes in terms of reference (ToR) of 15th Finance Commission.
According to sources, the Finance Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Puducherry, Punjab and Delhi would be calling on the President on Thursday at 5 pm to apprise him about the discriminatory terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission. The delegation would be led by Andhra Pradesh's FM Yanamala Rama Krishnudu.
"The memorandum would be submitted to draw the attention of the President about the norms that erode the autonomy of all states, which would bring significant hardship to all states. The ToR of 15th Finance Commission has clauses that violate the federal principle enshrined in the Constitution," the sources said.
"The terms the 15th Finance Commission are qualitatively different from the ToR of previous Finance Commission as some of the changes infringe on the provisions of the Constitution while some others are disruptive of well-settled federal fiscal arrangements and some changes constitute technical errors," the source said quoting draft of the memorandum that would be submitted to the President.
All the states have proposed that the award of the 15th Finance Commission must apply to UTs with a legislature, namely, the National Capital Territory of Delhi and UT of Puducherry. In the memorandum, amendments have been suggested by the Finance Minister of the five non-BJP ruled states.
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