Justice Vashishta Bhargava Committee

• The Justice Vashishta Bhargava Committee was appointed on 22nd April 1969, as part of the Eight-Point Scheme, to examine the surplus funds of Telangana.

Committee Composition:

• President: Vashishta Bhargava (Supreme Court Justice)

• Members: Vihari Mathur and Hari Bhushan

• Secretary: Krishna Swamy

• The Telangana Regional Committee argued against considering the Andhra region’s revenue deficit or surplus when assessing Telangana surplus funds, opposing the earlier Lalith Committee Report.

• The Bhargava Committee submitted a 123-page report, but the government did not officially disclose it.

Key Findings of the Bhargava Committee Report:

1. Telangana surplus funds for the period 1956–1968 were estimated at Rs. 28.34 crore.
2. It was stated that the Telangana surplus funds were not spent in Telangana.
3. The committee recommended additional measures for implementing the Gentlemen’s Agreement.
4. The Telangana Representatives and the Telangana Regional Committee opposed the Bhargava Committee Report.

Government Action:

• The central government directed the state to allocate Rs. 45 crore from the budget for Telangana development by the end of the 4th Five-Year Plan, starting from 1st April 1968.
• The Rs. 45 crore was in addition to the usual 1/3 budget allocation. The central government provided this amount as a grant to the state government.