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THE MANIPUR
MERGER AGREEMENT
Agreement made this twenty first day of September 1949 between the
Governor General of India and his Highness, the Maharajah of Manipur.
Whereas in the 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 Maharajah 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 (there in after 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 Maharajah shall continue to enjoy the same
personal rights, privileges, dignities, titles, authority over
religious observances, customs, usages, rites and ceremonies and
institutions in charge of the same in the State, which he would have
enjoyed had this agreement not been made.
ARTICLE III
His highness the Maharajah shall with effect from the said day be
entitled to receive for his lifetime from the revenue 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.
The Government of India undertake that the said sum of Rupees three
lakhs shall be paid to His Highness the Maharajah in four equal
installments in advances 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 IV
His Highness the Maharajah 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.
His Highness the Maharajah will furnish to the dominion Government
before the first January 1950, an inventory of all the immovable
property, securities and cash balance held by him as such private
property.
If any dispute arises as to whether any item of property is the
private property of his highness the Maharajah or State property, it
shall be referred to a Judicial Officer qualified to be appointed as a
High Court Judge, and the decision of that officer shall be final and
binding on both parties.
Provided that his Highness the Maharajah's right to the use of the
residences known as "Redlands" and "Les Chatalettes" in Shillong, and
the property in the town of Gauhati known as "Manipuri Basti" shall
not be questioned.
ARTICLE V
All the members of His Highness's family shall be entitled to all
the personal rights, privileges, dignities and titles enjoyed by them
whether within or outside the territories of the State, immediately
before the 15th August, 1947.
ARTICLE VI
The Dominion Government guarantees the succession, according to
law and custom, to the gaddi of the State and to his highness, the
Maharajah's personal rights, privileges, dignities, titles, authority
over religious observances, customs usages, rites and ceremonies and
institutions in-charge of the same in the State.
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 in
Manipur, against His highness the Maharajah whether in a personal
capacity or otherwise in respect of anything done or omitted to be
done by him or under his authority during the period of his
administration of that State.
ARTICLE VIII
The Government of India hereby guarantees either the continuance
in service of the permanent members of the Public Services of Manipur
on conditions which will be not less advantageous than those on which
they were serving before the date on which the administration of
Manipur is made over to the Government of India or the payment of
reasonable compensation.
The Government of India further guarantees the continuance of pensions
and leave salaries sanctioned by His Highness the Maharajah to
servants of the State who have retired or proceeded on leave
preparatory to retirement, before the date on which the Administration
of Manipur is made over to the Government of India.
The Government of India shall also undertake to make suitable
provisions for the employment of Manipuris in the various branches of
Public Services, and in every way encourage Manipuris to join them.
They also under-take to preserve various laws, customs and conventions
prevailing in the State pertaining to the social, economic and
religious life of the people.
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, has appended his
signature on behalf and with the authority of the Governor General of
India and His Highness Maharajah Bodhachandra Singh, Maharajah of
Manipur has appended his signature on behalf of himself, his heirs and
successors.
BODHA CHANDRA SINGH,
Maharajah of Manipur.
V.P. MENON, SRI PRAKASH
Adviser to the Government of India, Governor of Assam, Shillong
(Ministry of State) September 21, 1949.
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