Council of State (Vishwamitra)
राज्य परिषद | |
| Abbreviation | CoS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1 February 2022 |
| Founder | Dhrubajyoti Roy, Rashtradhyaksh of Vishwamitra |
| Founded at | Rajagriha |
| Legal status | Non-executive advisory body |
| Purpose | Advising the Rashtradhyaksh |
| Headquarters | Rashtra Niwas |
| Location | |
Official language | English, Hindi |
| Dhrubajyoti Roy | |
The Council of State (Hindi: राज्य परिषद) is a non-executive advisory body established to advise the Rashtradhyaksh of Vishwamitra in the exercise of many of their discretionary and executive powers vested by the Constitution of Vishwamitra. The Council was created by Dhrubajyoti Roy, the Rashtradhyaksh of Vishwamitra through his royal decree no. 231-2022 on 29 January 2022, with the council being effectively established from 1 February 2022.
History
The Council of State was established in 2017 by then Prime Minister Dhrubajyoti Roy as the highest decision-making body of the Republic of Friends Society and comprised of the highest officials of the nation including the President and Prime Minister. The council was customarily headed by the President of Friends Society until the establishment of an executive presidency in September 2018 when the President assumed the office with full powers. The council was interchangeably also known as the "Executive Council". In May 2020, following the retirement of Dhrubajyoti Roy as the President of the nation, his successor and then President Tanishkaa Patranabish nominated him to serve as the Chairman of the Council of State with the same status, rank and privileges of a head of state. Notable members of the Council of State during the republican era include:
- Dhrubajyoti Roy, former President and Prime Minister, former Chairman
- Tanishkaa Patranabish, former President and Prime Minister, former Deputy Chairman
- Sarala Baishya, former President and Prime Minister, former executive member
- Anoushkaa Patranabish, former President and Prime Minister, former executive member
- Abhiraj Kar, former Deputy Prime Minister, former executive member
- Asmi Patranabis, former Deputy Prime Minister, former executive member
- Bishnu Chetry, former Deputy Prime Minister, former executive member
- Arnab Sil, former Deputy Prime Minister, former executive member
- Ankurjyoti Thakuria, former Deputy Prime Minister, former executive member
In June 2020, the Council of State made the decision to replace the republican institutions of the nation with a federal elective absolute monarchy which became effective on 8 June 2020. Following the establishment of the monarchy, the Council ceased to exist. On 1 July 2020, then Rashtradhyaksh Tanishkaa Patranabish through her royal decree created the Privy Council to perform similar functions as an advisory council. The Privy Council continued to remain as the nation's highest advisory body until its formal dissolution on 31 December 2020.
However, soon after its dissolution, a need for such an institution was felt and after several deliberations with the senior state officials, the Council of State was re-created on 29 January 2022 with effect from 1 February.
Role
The Council of State was established to perform the most important function of advising the Rashtradhyaksh of the State:
- In the exercise of many of their discretionary and executive powers vested by the Constitution, which includes:
- appointment of the Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme Court.
- appointment of the Ombudsman.
- appointment of the Attorney General.
- In the exercise of their military powers as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, including:
- appointment of military chiefs following nomination from the Ministry of Defence.
- declaring war and peace.
The council may further advise the Rashtradhyaksh and through them, the Government of Vishwamitra regarding various issues of national importance, including the exercise of their special powers vested by the Constitution. They may from time to time discuss the actions taken by the Rashtradhyaksh, decrees issued and other appointments made and subsequently advise him in regards to further actions. The council may advise the Rashtradhyaksh during constitutional amendments and in the exercise of their powers in the process of revocation of citizenship, titles, statuses upon citizens including the grant of persona non grata, as suggested by the Government of Vishwamitra.
The council shall also have the right to halt a decision of the monarch should the majority of the Councillors be against it. The Council shall stand always, but convene only when called upon by the monarch.
Composition
The Council of State is composed of several ex-officio and nominated members who are known as the "Councillors of State". The council is mostly composed of several members who serve in the council by the virtue of their position in the nation. The composition includes:
- Rashtradhyaksh
- Deputy Rashtradhyaksh
- Chairman of the Conference of Rulers
- Prime Minister
- One senior member of the council of ministers nominated by the Prime Minister
- Former Prime Ministers
- President of the House of Councillors
- Speaker of the House of the People
- One member of the House of Councillors nominated by the President
- One member of the House of the People nominated by the Speaker
- Chief Justice/Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court
- Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
- Three civilian members nominated by the Rashtradhyaksh
The Rashtradhyaksh serves as the ex-officio head of the council and all members are appointed in the name and at the pleasure of the Rashtradhyaksh.
Current composition
The current composition of the Council of State includes:
| Sr. No. | Position | Councillor of State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rashtradhyaksh | Dhrubajyoti Roy (ex-officio Head of the Council) |
| 2 | Deputy Rashtradhyaksh | Tanishkaa Patranabish |
| 3 | Chairman of the Conference of Rulers | Bishnu Chetry |
| 4 | Prime Minister | Farhaz Hazarika |
| 5 | One member nominated by the Prime Minister | Michal Nowacki, Senior Minister |
| 6 | Former Prime Ministers | |
| 7 | President of the House of Councillors | Vacant |
| 8 | Speaker of the House of the People | Tyler Mullins |
| 9 | One member of the House of Councillors nominated by the President | TBD |
| 10 | One member of the House of the People nominated by the Speaker | William Cooper, Leader of the Opposition |
| 11 | Chief Justice/Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court | Carson Snyder, Judge (in lieu of the Chief Justice) |
| 12 | Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee | Air Chief Marshal Matthew Griffin, Chief of the Air Staff |
| 13 | Three civilian members nominated by the Rashtradhyaksh |
|
Former members
- Chris Miller (1 February 2022) (served as President of the House of Councillors; resigned)
- Matthew P. P. Tonna (1 – 15 February 2022) (served as Speaker of the House of the People; resigned)
