Page:White Paper on Indian States (1950).pdf/242

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APPENDIX XXXII

MANIPUR MERGER AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT made this twentyfirst day of September 1949 between the Governor General of India and His Highness the Maharaja of Manipur.

WHEREAS in he 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 incharge 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;

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