White Paper on Indian States (1950)/Part 11/Recognition of Rulers

by Ministry of States, Government of India

(3) Recognition of Rulers.

The Rulers of the merged and integrated States have been guaranteed succession according to law and custom. In the Covenants and some of the Agreements of Merger, provision has been made for the procedure to be observed for the settlement of the cases of disputed succession. In the case of the Rulers of States forming Unions, every question of disputed succession is to be decided by the Council of Rulers after referring to the High Court of the Union and in accordance with the opinion of that Court. Article 366 (22) of the Constitution defines the term 'Ruler' as follows:—

"Ruler in relation to an Indian State means the Prince, Chief or other person by whom any such covenant or agreement as is referred to in Clause (1) of Article 291 was entered into and who far the time being is recognised by the President as the Ruler of the State, and includes any person who for the time being is recognised by the President as the successor of such Ruler"

It is expected that in according recognition to Rulers, the President will show due regard to the provisions of the Covenants and Agreements of Merger in respect of the cases to which these provisions apply.