The withdrawal of general consent to the CBI by certain state governments in India threatens the spirit of cooperative federalism in India. Discuss.

Indian model of federalism is cooperative federalism opposed to dual federalism of USA. In India, centre & states are like a water tight compartments rather are intertwined & interdependent on each other. CBI was formed under Delhi Police establishment act. It is the Central Bureau of investigation & investigates matters related to murders, crimes against security of nation, even create terrorism that forms across states. Recent issue in CBI functioning: CBI needs consent of state to investigate matters within territorial jurisdiction.

It is of 2 types—general & case specific. It is 2 states including West Bengal have withdrawn general consent. This hampers cooperative federalism in— (1) As refusal of states to cooperate with a central agency. (2) Forces CBI to ask for case-specific consent— hampers delivery by Justice & threatens security of states. (3) It reflects faulty issues are major states are opposition ruled states— the curse of India's federal issues. However, it highlights the increasing trend of usage of central agencies for political interest & directing out opposition, which weakens cooperative federalism too. There is need of 'ethics in governance' as highlighted by 3rd ARC, to give life to awe cooperative federalism structure.