Apparently, the sub-committee formed in December by the Union Home Ministry during its Standing Council Meeting to suggest and bring a unanimity on safeguards against misuse of these two Articles has failed to come to a conclusion. The entire matter -- the committee reportedly handed over its report to Home Minister L K Advani recently -- will now be placed before the ISC.

Headed by Defence Minister George Fernandes, the sub-committee which was asked to come out with its report by January 10, has among its members the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and the Finance Minister of West Bengal.

Orissa and West Bengal were the two dissenting voices.