The Union government has decided to set up a new commission to review Centre-state relations.

This was announced by Shivraj Patil, Minister for Home Affairs, at a Meet the Leader programme organised by the Press Association, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

He, however, did not elaborate as to when the commission would be constituted and what would be its guidelines.

"We had the Justice R S Sarkariya Commission, which gave its findings years back. The times have changed and the administrative mechanism have also changed. So under the changed circumstances the government felt that a commission should be set up for a fresh look at Centre-State relations," he said.

The Cabinet is likely to approve the appointment of the commission soon and a gazette notification would be issued outlining its terms of reference.

The issue of giving greater powers to the state particularly those relating to revenue collection is likely to be included in its framework.

Asked if the Centre had agreed to hold talks on greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir [Images] during his meeting with former chief minister Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah, he said: "When Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah met me I was surprised to note the difference between what transpired during the meeting and what appeared in the print media. It was at the end of the meeting that they said that while the Centre was willing to discuss matters with all sorts of people and organisations it was not doing so with those who were in the government. So I said that we were willing to discuss the matter even with them."

He also spoke about the government's intentions to prepare a law on disaster management.

Patil clarified that while the Centre was willing to hold talks with the All Party Hurriyat Conference, it was not averse to meeting other groups, organisations and individuals to seek their views on Kashmir.

"They are welcome to hold talks. We will listen to those who come to talk. Those who do not come, we are not unduly worried about them. I can listen to their point of view but it does not mean that I am doing what is not feasible under the Constitution," he said.