Taking the States for Granted

The practice so far has been to announce the appointment of the Finance Commission, when due, in the Budget session of parliament. This time the decision has been announced a month after the Budget session. Whatever the reasons for this departure from past practice, it cannot be overlooked that the composition of the Finance Commissions is becoming progressively less inspiring. If a virtual political castaway, Y B Chavan, was appointed to the chairmanship of the last commission, N K P Salve's political or professional credentials to chair the Ninth Finance Commission are no more inspiring.