- Success of India has a federal country, depends not just on the harmonious relationship between centre and the states but also between states
- To ensure this harmonious relationship, constitution of India has included several important provisions in the constitution, such as-
- Adjudication of inter-state water disputes
- Coordination through inter-state councils
- Mutual recognition of public acts, records and judicial proceedings
- Freedom of inter-state trade, commerce and intercourse
- Zonal councils established through acts and the recent Goods and Services Tax (GST) council are also steps to ensure harmonious relationship between the states
Inter-state water dispute: Art 262 provides for the adjudication of inter-state water disputes. It has two following provisions:
- Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley
- Parliament may also provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint
- Under the provisions of the act, the central government has enacted, River boards act (1956) and Inter-state water disputes act (1956)
- The river board acts provides for the establishment of river boards for the regulation and development of Inter-state River and river valleys. Such a river board is established on the request of the state governments concerned
- The inter-state water dispute act empowers the central government to set up an ad hoc tribunal for the adjudication of a dispute between the two or more states in relation to the water of an inter-state river. The decision of the tribunal would be final and binding. Furthermore, the act bars the SC and any other court to have jurisdiction in this matter
