The committee, which will also have the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and the finance minister of West Bengal, was set up at the day-long meeting of the standing committee of the inter-state council headed by home minister LK Advani.

The committee will look into suggestions made by states on preventing the misuse of emergency powers under Articles 355 and 356.

Stating that the centre was also in favour of retaining Article 356, Advani told reporters after the six-hour meeting that the committee would submit its report on January 10 to be discussed at the full meeting of the council scheduled on January 21.

While most of the states wanted strict safeguards to prevent misuse of these articles,Uttar Pradesh differed on the West Bengal government's proposal that states should reply to the centre's showcause notice on Article 356 within seven days.

This view was favoured by Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Orissa and Tamil Nadu, West Bengal finance minister Asim Dasgupta said.

The meeting also discussed Article 355 and the procedure to be followed on the disposal of recommendations made by the standing committee.

The overwhelming view at the meeting was that Article 356 had been grossly misused in the past, giving rise to the demand for its abrogation.

Those favouring a repeal said if adequate safeguards were available to prevent its misuse, they were willing to go along with it, Advani said.

However, the majority view was in favour of retention of this article in the interests of safeguarding national unity, including threats arising out of external aggression, and a strict adherence to the constitution throughout the country.