independence act 1947
Indian Independence Act 1947
The Indian Independence Act 1947 was the statute (10 and 11 Geo VI, c. 30) enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom promulgating the partition of India and the independence of the dominions of Pakistan and India. The Act received royal assent on 18 July 1947.
The legislation was formulated by the government of Prime Minister Clement Attlee, after representatives of the Indian National Congress,[1] the Muslim League,[2] and the Sikh community[3] came to an agreement with the Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten of Burma, on what has come to be known as the 3 June Plan or Mountbatten Plan.
Principal points
Passed on 15 June 1947, the Act stipulated that:
* Two independent dominions, India and Pakistan shall be set up in India .[4]
* The dominions would be set up on a fixed date: the fifteenth of August 1947.[4]
* The responsibility as well as suzerainty of the government of the United Kingdom shall cease on fifteenth of August 1947.[4]
* That all Indian princely states shall be released from their official commitments and treaty relationships with the British Empire, and will be free to join either dominion.
* Both Dominions will be completely self-governing in their internal affairs, foreign affairs and national security, but the British monarch will continue to be their head of state, represented by the Governor-General of India and a new Governor-General of Pakistan. Both Dominions shall convene their Constituent Assemblies and write their respective constitutions.
* Both Dominions will be members of the British Commonwealth, but free to leave whenever they please.
* The British monarch shall be permitted to remove the title of Emperor of India from the Royal Style and Titles. King George VI subsequently removed the title by Order in council on 22 June 1948.
Salient features of the act
1. Two new dominions: Two new dominions were to emerge from the Indian Union, Pakistan and India.
2. Appointed
The Indian Independence Act 1947 was the statute (10 and 11 Geo VI, c. 30) enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom promulgating the partition of India and the independence of the dominions of Pakistan and India. The Act received royal assent on 18 July 1947.
The legislation was formulated by the government of Prime Minister Clement Attlee, after representatives of the Indian National Congress,[1] the Muslim League,[2] and the Sikh community[3] came to an agreement with the Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten of Burma, on what has come to be known as the 3 June Plan or Mountbatten Plan.
Principal points
Passed on 15 June 1947, the Act stipulated that:
* Two independent dominions, India and Pakistan shall be set up in India .[4]
* The dominions would be set up on a fixed date: the fifteenth of August 1947.[4]
* The responsibility as well as suzerainty of the government of the United Kingdom shall cease on fifteenth of August 1947.[4]
* That all Indian princely states shall be released from their official commitments and treaty relationships with the British Empire, and will be free to join either dominion.
* Both Dominions will be completely self-governing in their internal affairs, foreign affairs and national security, but the British monarch will continue to be their head of state, represented by the Governor-General of India and a new Governor-General of Pakistan. Both Dominions shall convene their Constituent Assemblies and write their respective constitutions.
* Both Dominions will be members of the British Commonwealth, but free to leave whenever they please.
* The British monarch shall be permitted to remove the title of Emperor of India from the Royal Style and Titles. King George VI subsequently removed the title by Order in council on 22 June 1948.
Salient features of the act
1. Two new dominions: Two new dominions were to emerge from the Indian Union, Pakistan and India.
2. Appointed