The Constitution of India, 1950, has declared India a federal system1 whose structure has been modelled on best practices in the United States (US), Canada and Australia.2 Therefore, there is a division of powers between the constituent parts of the Centre and the States – namely, the executive, legis- lature and the judiciary.3 In particular, the Constitution adopts the principle of ‘co-operative federalism’ – according to which the Centre and the States are expected to operate in tandem as opposed to being in isolation from one another.4 Consequently, the various governments of the Centre and the States are expected to employ their resources for the realization of national goals5 – without overstepping their constitutional mandate, failing which the act will be construed as unconstitutional and void.