West Bengal Memorandum

In 1977, the West Bengal Government (led by the Communists) published a memorandum on Centre-state relations and sent to the Central government. The memorandum inter alia suggested the following: (i) The word 'union’ in the Constitution should be replaced by the word 'federal’; (ii) The jurisdiction of the Centre should be confined to defence, foreign affairs, currency, communications and economic co-ordination; (iii) All other subjects including the residuary should be vested in the states; (iv) Articles 356 and 357 (President’s Rule) and 360 (financial emergency) should be repealed; (v) State’s consent should be made obligatory for formation of new states or reorganisation of existing states; (vi) Of the total revenue raised by the Centre from all sources, 75 per cent should be allocated to the states;

(vii) Rajya Sabha should have equal powers with that of the Lok

Sabha; and (viii) There should be only Central and state services and the allIndia services should be abolished.

The Central government did not accept the demands made in the memorandum.