The Manipur Merger Agreement
Agreement made this twenty first day of September 1949
between the Governor General of India and His Highness the Maharaja of Manipur.
Whereas in the best interests of the State of Manipur as well as of the
Dominion of India it is desirable to provide for the administration of the said
State by or under the authority of the Dominion Government:
It is hereby agreed as follows:-
Article I
His Highness the Maharaja of Manipur hereby cedes to the
Dominion Government full and exclusive authority, jurisdiction and powers for
and in relation to the governance of the State and agrees to transfer the
administration of the State to the Dominion Government on the fifteenth day of
October 1949 (hereinafter referred to as “the said day”). As from the said day
the Dominion Government will be competent to exercise the said powers,
authority and jurisdiction in such manner and through such agency as it may
think fit.
Article II
His Highness the Maharaja shall continue to enjoy the same
personal rights, privileges, dignities, titles, authority over religious
observances, customs, usages, rites and ceremonies and institutions in charge
of the same in the State, which he would have enjoyed had this agreement not
been made.
Article III
His Highness the Maharaja shall with effect from the said
day be entitled to receive for his life-time from the revenues of the State
annually for his Privy Purse the sum of Rupees three lakhs free of all taxes.
This amount is intended to cover all the expenses of the Ruler and his family,
including expenses on account of his personal staff and armed guards,
maintenance of his residences, marriages and other ceremonies etc. and the
allowances to the Ruler’s relations who on the date of execution of this
agreement were in receipt of such allowances from the revenues of the State,
and will neither be increased nor reduced for any reason whatsoever.
The Government of India undertake that the said sum of Rupees
three lakhs shall be paid to His Highness the Maharaja in four equal
installments in advance at the beginning of each quarter from the State
treasury or at such other treasury as may be specified by the Government of
India.
Article IV
His Highness the Maharaja shall be entitled to the full
ownership, use and enjoyment of all private properties (as distinct from State
properties) belonging to him on the date of this agreement.
His Highness the Maharaja will furnish to the Dominion
Government before the first January 1950 an inventory of all the immovable
property, securities and cash balance held by him as such private property.
If any dispute arises as to whether any item of property is
the private property of His Highness the Maharaja or State property, it shall
be referred to a judicial officer qualified to be appointed as a High Court
Judge, and the decision of the officer shall be final and binding on both
parties:
Provided that His Highness the Maharaja’s right to the use
of the residences known as “Redlands” and “Less Chatalettes” in Shillong, and
the property in the town of Gauhati known as “Manipuri Basti” shall not be
questioned.
Article V
All the members of His Highness’s family shall be entitled
to all the personal rights, privileges, dignities and titles enjoyed by them
whether within or outside the territories of the State, immediately before the
15th August, 1947.
Article VI
The Dominion Government guarantees the succession, according
to law and custom, to the gaddi of the State and to His Highness, the
Maharaja’s personal rights, privileges, dignities, titles, authority over
religious observances, customs, usages, rites and ceremonies and institutions
in charge of the same in the State.
Article VII
No enquiry shall be made by or under the authority of the
Government of India, and no proceedings shall lie in any Court in Manipur,
against His Highness the Maharaja whether in a personal capacity or otherwise
in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by him or under his authority
during the period of his administration of that State.
Article VIII
(1) The Government of India hereby guarantees either the
continuance in service of the permanent members of the Public Services of
Manipur on conditions which will be not less advantageous than those on which
they were serving before the date on which the administration of Manipur is
made over to the Government of India or the payment of reasonable compensation.
(2) The Government of India further guarantees the
continuance of pensions and leave salaries sanctioned by His Highness the
Maharaja to servants of the State who have retired or proceeded on leave
preparatory to retirement, before the date on which the administration of
Manipur is made over to the Government of India.
(3) The Government of India also undertake to make suitable
provisions for the employment of Manipuris in the various branches of Public
Services, and in every way encourage Manipuris to join them. They also undertake
to preserve various laws, customs and conventions prevailing in the State
pertaining to the social, economic and religious life of the people.
Article IX
Except with the previous sanction of the Government of India
no proceedings, civil or criminal, shall be instituted against any person in
respect of any act done or purporting to be done in the execution of his duties
as a servant of the State before the day on which the administration is made
over to the Government of India.
In confirmation whereof Mr. Vapal Pangunni Menon, Adviser to
the Govemment of India in the Ministry of States, has appended his signature on
behalf and with the authority of the Governor General of India and His Highness
Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh, Maharaja of Manipur has appended his signature on
behalf of himself, his heirs and successors.
Bodhachandra Singh September 21, 1949.
Maharaja of Manipur
V.P. Menon
Advisor to the Government of India
Ministry of State
Sri Prakas
Governor of Assam, Shillong
