The Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000
๐ Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 โ Detailed Explanation
The Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 is a Parliamentary Act enacted to provide for the creation of a new state โ Chhattisgarh โ by bifurcating the existing state of Madhya Pradesh.
This Act was passed by the Parliament of India under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, which empowers Parliament to form a new state by separation of territory from any existing state.
๐ Date of Enactment and Effect
Passed: August 25, 2000
Received Presidential Assent: August 25, 2000
Came into effect: November 1, 2000
From this date, Chhattisgarh officially became the 26th state of India, carved out from the southeastern districts of Madhya Pradesh.
๐ฏ Objectives of the Act
To reorganize the state of Madhya Pradesh by creating a new state, Chhattisgarh.
To provide a legal and administrative framework for the division of:
Assets and liabilities
Employees and institutions
Legislative and judicial structures
To ensure smooth governance during and after the bifurcation.
๐บ๏ธ 1. Territorial Division (Section 3)
The Act defined which 16 districts would form the new state of Chhattisgarh, including:
Raipur
Bilaspur
Durg
Bastar
Raigarh
Surguja
Korba
Kanker
Dantewada, etc.
The remaining part continued as the restructured state of Madhya Pradesh.
๐๏ธ 2. Legislative Structure (Section 15)
Chhattisgarh got its own State Legislative Assembly, consisting initially of 90 Members.
The sitting MLAs from the defined areas became MLAs of Chhattisgarh.
Madhya Pradesh Assembly was reconstituted accordingly.
โ๏ธ 3. High Court (Section 20)
A separate High Court for Chhattisgarh was established at Bilaspur.
Until it was formally set up, the Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur continued to have jurisdiction over Chhattisgarh matters.
Later, the Chhattisgarh High Court became functional on November 1, 2000.
๐ผ 4. Allocation of Services (Sections 58โ65)
Employees of the state government were divided between Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
An advisory committee was formed to assist in fair distribution.
Employees had the right to appeal and object to their allocation.
๐งพ 5. Division of Assets and Liabilities (Section 48 onwards)
Properties, debts, cash balances, and liabilities were divided based on:
Population ratio (approx. 3:1 for MP:CG)
Location of assets
State undertakings, like transport and power corporations, were also split.
๐ฎ 6. Police and Administration
Separate Director General of Police (DGP) and administrative machinery was established for Chhattisgarh.
State cadre officers and IPS/IAS officers were allotted accordingly.
๐ฆ 7. Financial Arrangements (Section 49โ51)
Division of funds and grants from the Centre was reorganized.
Both states were entitled to their share of central tax revenue.
Planning Commission and Finance Commission revised allocations.
๐ 8. Education and Cultural Institutions
Universities located within Chhattisgarh became Chhattisgarh universities.
Provisions were made for recognition of degrees and continuity for students.
โ๏ธ Key Case Laws Related to the Act
โ๏ธ 1. Union of India v. R. Vallinayagam (2001)
Issue: Whether Parliament can form a new state under Article 3 without the consent of the parent state.
Held: Supreme Court upheld that Parliament has exclusive power under Article 3 to create new states. The opinion of the concerned state legislature is only advisory, not binding.
This case indirectly reinforced the constitutional validity of the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000.
โ๏ธ **2. Sundar Lal Patwa v. Union of India (2001, MP High Court)
Issue: Challenge to allocation of government employees between MP and Chhattisgarh.
Held: The court stated that the allocation process was fair and reasonable, and upheld the decision of the Central Government under the provisions of the Act.
๐ Salient Features Summary
| Aspect | Madhya Pradesh | Chhattisgarh |
|---|---|---|
| Original Area | Whole undivided MP | 16 districts of MP |
| Formation Date | Remains a state | 1st November 2000 |
| Capital | Bhopal | Raipur |
| High Court | Jabalpur | Bilaspur |
| Legislature | Reconstituted | 90 MLAs |
| Language & Culture | Hindi, Bundelkhandi, Malwi | Hindi, Chhattisgarhi |
โ Conclusion
The Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 was a significant step toward administrative efficiency, cultural recognition, and regional development. The peaceful and smooth creation of Chhattisgarh stands as a successful example of reorganisation under the Indian Constitution.
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