Commissions which study policy issues can be just as purposeless as those which investigate crimes. In 1983, Indira Gandhi appointed the Sarkaria Commission to examine Centre-state relations. It took the commission six years to prepare its report but almost none of the 247 recommendations in the 1,600 page report have actually been implemented. Two years ago, the government appointed Justice M.M. Punchi to head a commission to look into Centre-state relations once more. The same subject, incidentally, was also covered partially by the high-powered Venkatachalliah Commission which reviewed the Constitution. The Venkatachalliah Commission’s recommendations are, like that of many other commissions, gathering dust in the law ministry cupboards.

Just how long can a commission continue? Some commissions are open-ended. For example, Balakrishna Eradi, at 87, is still the chairperson of the commission on sharing of the Ravi-Beas river waters between Punjab and Haryana. Eradi has been holding the post since 1986. Surely a record of sorts.

coomi.kapoor@expressindia.com