committee on Telangana-Request

Date: 30-01-2010

Sri. P. Chidambaram,
Union Home Minister,
Govt. of India,
New Delhi.

Sub: Proposed ‘Committee’ for Telangana State – Reg.

We appreciate your concern on the issue of Telangana State. In this connection I refer to your recent statement on constitution of a ‘committee and its terms of reference’.
2. In the above context you may kindly recall the constitution of a similar committee in December, 1952 by the Central Government when a decision was taken for the formation of Andhra State by bifurcating Madras Province. This ‘committee’ was headed by Justice K.N. Wanchoo, the then Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court. This committee was given very ‘clear terms’ as described below. It was asked to submit the Report in ‘one month’ beginning from 1st January, 1953. Justice Wanchoo was designated as “Officer on Special Duty” at that time.
Terms of reference:
“Chief Justice, Wanchoo will set out, consider and report on the financial and other implications of this division and the various questions which will arise in the course of implementing the decision of the Government of India more particularly by reason of the non-inclusion of the city of Madras in the Andhra State. For the consideration of the whole problem he will receive representations from such individuals, groups, organizations and parties as he may think fit and hear their representatives, if they desire to be heard. He may, if he so chooses, tour in different parts of the Telugu speaking districts if he considers that it will facilitate the execution of the task entrusted to him. He will submit his report by the 31st of January, 1953”.

3. It is seen from the above that this High Power Committee was given a clear ‘mandate’ to consider and report on the financial and other implications of the division of the Madras Province and other allied matters.

It is also clear from the above terms that the “demand for Madras city as the capital of Andhra state” has been excluded from the consideration of the committee.
4. This committee submitted its report on 7th February, 1953 within one month from taking charge of the office. In other words the committee did excellent job in submitting the Report in “one month” as stipulated in the “Terms of Reference”.

Hence “similar procedure” requires to be adopted by the Central Government with respect to the present committee. In the instant case the task of the committee is rather short and simple as it has to deal with the following subjects only.
1. Financial implications of the division’
2. Services matters;
3. Irrigation projects on Godavari, Krishna and Tungabadhra rivers; and
4. Division of Assets and Liabilities.
In the circumstances a clear ‘mandate’ requires to be given to the committee with regard to ‘terms’ as well as ‘timeframe’ for the submission of the report. Any “deviation or departure” from the procedure adopted in 1953 for the division of Madras Province will give rise to needless and justifiable controversies resulting in further turmoil in the region.
M. Narayan Reddy, Ex-M.P.,
5-5-80, Khalilwadi,
Nizamabad (A.P)
Tel: 08462-222877
Cell: 99480 22877