Pondicherry Representative Assembly
After merger of French settlements into Indian Union, a new assembly, named as Pondicherry Representative Assembly has been created by Government of India. After the de-factor merger and before the legal integration with the Indian Union on August 16, 1962, general elections to the assembly were held in 1955 and 1959.
Pondicherry Representative Assembly Assemblée représentative de Pondichéry (French) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | 5 years |
| History | |
| Founded | June 1955 |
| Disbanded | June 30, 1963 |
| Preceded by | Representative Assembly of French India |
| Succeeded by | Pondicherry Legislative Assembly |
| Seats | 39 |
| Elections | |
| First-past-the-post | |
First election | 1955 |
Last election | 1959 |
| Meeting place | |
| Pondichéry | |
Background
In 1946, French India (Inde française) became Overseas territory (Territoire d'outre-mer) of France. Then, in the same year on October 25, the Representative Assembly of French India (Assemblée représentative de l'Inde française) of 44 members has been created that replaced the general council (conseil général).[1]
During the start of Fourth Republic, by decree nº 46-2381, dated October 25, 1946, passed by the Government of France instituting a Representative Assembly in the French India. This originally assembly had 44 seats in total. After merger of Changernagore, the size reduced to 39. A member of this assembly was referred as Councillor. The seat of the representative assembly is assigned at Pondichéry and the tenure is fixed to be 5 years.
The de-facto transfer of French settlements in India has happened on November 1, 1954. These four french settlements were organized as State of Pondicherry. Later, on June 11, 1955, The Government of India has dissolved the Representative Assembly of French India by State of Pondicherry (Representative Assembly Decree Amendment) Order.[2]
Commune-wise allocation of seats
After 1951, French India consisted of four settlements (French: établissements), namely, Pondichéry, Karikal, Mahé and Yanaon. The allocation of 39 seats of the Assemblée Représentative of French India for the 17 communes of French India. Établissements de Pondichéry and Karikal had 8 and 6 electoral constituencies (circonscription électorales), respectively. While, Mahé and Yanaon had one electoral constituency, respectively.[3]:1044–1046
As per Article 2 of the decree, the composition of the assembly is determined as below[3]:1028
- Établissement de Pondichéry (total 22 seats)
- Pondichéry: 6
- Ariancoupom: 2
- Bahour: 2
- Modéliarpeth: 2
- Oulgaret: 4
- Nettapacom: 2
- Tiroubouvané: 2
- Villenour: 2
- Établissement de Karikal (total 12 seats)
- Karaikal Ville: 4
- Cotchéry: 2
- Grand'Aldée: 2
- Neravy: 1
- Nédouncadou: 1
- Tirnoular: 2
- Établissement de Chandernagore (total 5 seats)
- Mahé: 3
- Établissement de Yanaon (total 2 seats)
- Yanaon: 2
List of Seats
| Settlements (Établissements) | Seats (sièges) | Constituencies (circonscriptions) |
|---|---|---|
| Pondicherry | 22 |
Pondicherry:Mouttalpeth, Couroussoucoupom, Cassicade, Pondicherry, Bussy Street, Ouppalam
|
| Karikal | 12 | Cotchéry:Cotchéry-Mada Kovil, Thirumeniyazhagar, Karikal :Karikal Nord, Karikal Centre, Karikal Sud, Karaikovilpattu, Tirnoular:Tirounalar-Tharparinswarar Kovil, Tirounalar-Padhrakaliamman Kovil, Néravy:Néravy, Neduncadou:Neduncadou, Grand Aldée:Grand Aldée-Nord, Grand Aldée-Sud |
| Mahe | 3 | Mahé:Mahé (Ville), Pallor, Pandakkal |
| Yanaon | 2 | Yanaon:Cancalapeth, Adi Andhrapeth |
1955 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election
The 1955 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election was held from July 18 to 23. Initially, Maurice Pakkiriswamy Pillai led the Pondicherry Representative Assembly from August 17, 1955,[4] until his death in January 1956.[5]:64–65[6] At that point another cabinet comprising Eduard Goubert, Chandrasekhara Chettiar, Mohammed Yusoof, S. Dakshinamoorthy Mudaliar and Thiagraja Naicker was formed.[7]
1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election
The 1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election were held from August 11 to 14. Among the winners, a six-membered council (of ministers) was formed under leadership of V. Venkatasubba Reddiar. It had V. Venkatasubba Reddiar, Eduard Goubert, C. E. Barathan, Gouroussamy Pillai, P. Shanmugam and Mohamed Ismail Maricar.[8]
Dissolution
The French settlements of India were de-jure transferred on August 16, 1962. Pondicherry Representative Assembly functioned until June 30, 1963, and succeeded by Puducherry Legislative Assembly. The Indian Parliament enacted the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 that came into force on July 1, 1963,[9] and the pattern of Government prevailing in the rest of the country was introduced in this territory also, but subject to certain limitations. Edouard Goubert became the chief minister in the subsequent Pondicherry Legislative Assembly.
See also
References
- "Les établissements français en Inde au XIXe siècle, 1816–1914 (4)". Jacques Weber. FeniXX. 1988.
- "Extraordinary Gazette of India, 1955, No. 468" (PDF). Government of India. Directorate of Printing. 1955.
- Journal Officiel des établissements français dans l'Inde, 1946.
- "The Encyclopaedia of Indian National Congress". A. Moin Zaidi. S. Chand Publications. 1976. p. 229.
- Shriman Narayan, K.P.Madhavan Nair (1956). "Report Of The General Secretaries". Indian National Congress.
- "Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru" (PDF). Jawaharlal Nehru. Oxford University Press. 1961. p. 156.
- "India, A Reference Annual 1956" (PDF). Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Publications Division. 1956. p. 494.
- "India A Reference Annual 1962" (PDF). Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Publications Division. 1962. p. 499.
- "Puducherry code volume 1" (PDF). Government of Puducherry. p. 83. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 25, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2020.