Tripura Merger Agreement
The State of Tripura was one of the ancient princely states of India. According to the Rajmala (the Chronicles of Kings), Tripura was ruled continuously by as many as 184 Tripuri Kings with sovereign and independent status prior to its merger with the Indian Union in 1949, after the death of the last ruling King, Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarman. His successor, Kirit Bikram Kishore Deb Barman, was thirteen years old at the time of the merger. King Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarman had died in 1947, after which a Council of Regency was formed to run the administration under the presidency of Queen Kanchan Prava Devi, mother of Kirit Bikram Kishore Deb Barman.
Within a few months after the unnatural demise of King Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarman, Tripura faced a great crisis, with threats from internal as well as external forces. Queen Kanchan Prava Devi, as president of the Council of Regency, came under severe pressure to opt to join the Indian Union. On the advice of the Government of India, she dissolved the Council of Regency and became the sole Regent on 12 January 1948. More than a year later, on 9 September 1949, she signed the 'Tripura Merger Agreement', and with effect from 15 October 1949 Tripura became part of Indian Union. It was thereafter administered by the Chief Commissioner as a 'C' Category State.
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AGREEMENT made this ninth day of September 1949, between the Governor-General of India and His Highness the Maharaja of Tripura.[1]
WHEREAS in the best interests of the State of Tripura as well as 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
The Maharaja of Tripura 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 (herineafter referred to as the said day).[1]
Article II
The Maharaja shall with effect from the said day be entitled to receive from revenues of the State annually for his privy purse the sum of Rupees Three lakhs and thirty thousand only [R330,000] free of taxes. This amount is intended to cover all the expenses of the Ruler and his family, including expenses on account of his personal staff, maintenance of his residences, marriages and other ceremonies etc. and will neither be increased nor reduced for any reason whatsoever.[1] The said sum may be drawn by 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.[1]
Article III
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.[1]
The Maharaja will furnish to the Dominion Government, before 10 October 1949, an inventory of all the immovable property, securities and cash balances held by him as such private property.[1]
If any dispute arises as to whether any item of property is the private property of the Maharaja or State property, it shall be referred to a judicial officer qualified to be appointed a High Court judge and the decision of that officer shall be final and binding on both parties.[1]
Article IV
The Maharaja shall be entitled to all the personal rights, privileges, immunities and dignities enjoyed by him as the Ruler of Tripura, whether within or without the State, immediately before 15 August 1947.
Article V
All the members of the Maharaja's family including Her Highness the Rajmata shall be entitled to all the personal privileges and titles enjoyed by them, whether within or without the territories of the State, immediately before the 15th day of August, 1947.[1]
Article VI
The Dominion Government guarantees the succession, according to law and custom, to the Gaddi of the State and to the Maharaja's personal rights, privileges, dignities and titles.[1]
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 of Tripura against His Highness the Maharaja or Her Highness the Maharani Regent whether in a personal capacity or otherwise in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by them under their authority during the period of Regency administration of the State.[1]
Article VIII
- The Government of India hereby guarantees either the continuance in service of the permanent members of the public services of Tripura on conditions which will be no less advantageous than those on which they were serving before the date on which the administration of Tripura is made over to the Government of India or the payment of reasonable compensation.[1]
- The Government of India further guarantees the continuance of pensions and leaves salaries sanctioned by the Government of His Highness the Maharaja to members of the public services of the State who have retired or proceeded on leave preparatory to retirement before the date on which the Administration of Tripura is made over to the Government of India.[1]
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.[1]
In confirmation whereof Mr. Vapal Pangunni Menon, adviser to the Government of India in the Ministry of States has appended his signature on behalf and with the authority of the Governor-General of India and Her Highness Queen Kanchanprava Devi, Maharani Regent of Tripura, has appended her signature on behalf of His Highness Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur Debbarma, the minor Ruler of Tripura, his heirs and successors.[1]
Dated New Delhi, The 9 September 1949.
Message by the then Minister of Home Affairs
Mention may be made here that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Minister of Home Affairs, gave the following message on the occasion of the Merger of Tripura on 15 October 1949.
The State of Tripura, with its isolated situation, yet occupying a position of strategic importance of the Eastern Border of India, has an ancient history and rich culture. The partition of the country has, however, brought in its train for this small State a host of problems, which, in the present State of its development, it was impossible for it to solve unaided. The Government of India and Her Highness the Maharani Regent, acting on behalf of the minor Ruler, have come to the conclusion that in the interests of the State and its people, and of the country as a whole, it was essential that the Centre should make itself responsible for its administration of the State and the well being of its people. Tripura thus becomes from today a centrally administered area.[2] I am most grateful to Her Highness for having come to this agreement. Hers was not any easy task in the peculiar circumstance in which she found herself. I am sure that providence will reward her for the courage and boldness with which she has taken this decision. To the people of Tripura, I can only say this: though far (and remote) from the capital city of the country, it will always claim our attention and we shall do our best to ensure that its link and connection with the main land are strengthened and it comes nearer to us. They will not stand alone to battle with the manifold problems that confront them. They will have the resources and the assistance of the Centre on which they can count. With their cooperation and help we hope that we shall deal with their problems efficiently and effectively. May God bless our joint effort with success.
References
- Suresh K. Sharma, Documents on North-East India: Tripura, pp. 93-95
- J. K. Das, Human rights and indigenous peoples, pp. 224-225
- Sardar Patel's Correspondence, Vol. 8, pp. 530–531