White Paper on Indian States (1950)/Part 5/Centrally Merged States/Tripura
Tripura
120. Another State on the north-east border of India taken over for Central administration was Tripura which had an area of 4,049 square miles and a population of over half a million. The Regent Maharani signed the agreement (Appendix XXXI) on behalf of the minor Ruler and in pursuance of this agreement the administration of the State was taken over by a Chief Commissioner on behalf of the Government of India on the 15th October, 1949.
APPENDIX XXXI
TRIPURA MERGER AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this the ninth day of September, 1949, between the Governor-General of India and His Highness the Maharaja of Tripura.
WHEREAS in the best interests of the State of Tripura 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.
The Maharaja of Tripura 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.
The Maharaja shall with effect from the said day be entitled to receive from the revenues of the State annually for his privy purse the sum of Rupees Three lakhs and Thirty Thousand only 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.
The said sum may be drawn by the Maharaja in four equal instalments 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 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.
The Maharaja will furnish to the Dominion Government before the 10th October 1949, an inventory of all the immovable property, securities and cash balances held by him as such private property.
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 as High Court Judge, and the decision of that Officer shall be final and binding on both parties.
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 the 15th 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, dignities and titles enjoyed by them, whether within or outside the territories of the State, immediately before the 15th day of August 1947.
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.
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 any thing done or omitted to be done by them under their authority during the period of the Regency administration of the State.
Article VIII.
(1) 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.
(2) The Government of India further guarantees the continuance of pensions and leave 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.
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 Government of India in the Ministry of States, appends his signature on behalf and with the authority of the Governor General of India and Her Highness Maharani Kanchan Prabha Devi, Maharani Regent of Tripura, has appended her signature on behalf of His Highness Maharaja Manikya Kirit Bikram Kishore Dev Barman Bahadur, the minor Ruler of Tripura, his heirs and successors.
KANCHAN PRABHA DEVI,
Maharani Regent Tripura State.
V. P. MENON,
Adviser to the Government of India,
Ministry of States.
Dated New Delhi, the 9th September 1949.