3rd June Plan

3rd June plan
OUTLINE
1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Approval Of The 3rd June Plan
4. Main Features Of The 3rd June Plan
5. Implementation Of The Plan
6. 3 major unresolved problems
Introduction
In February 1947 the British prime minister clement Attlee announced to the house of common in London
that the British government decided to leave the subcontinent no letter than June 1948 . He also
announced that the last British viceroy was to be Lord Mountbatten. The transfer of power was now
working to a fixed schedule .violence erupted all over the subcontinent and it become oblivious that if the
Muslim league’s basic demand was not met a savage civil war between the Hindus and the Muslims
would break out. It was the outbreak of violence in the Punjab in March 1947 which finally convinced the
congress to accept the principle of partition along religious lines. By 18 April, Nehru stated that all
provinces and districts which wish to join Pakistan would be allowed to do so, much to Gandhi’s distress,
but Nehru had now assumed political control of the congress with an independent India in sight
Background
Lord Mountbatten had been appointed as the last Viceroy of India who was to replace Lord Wavell. He
arrived in India on 22nd March, 1947. He came charged with the task to make a peaceful transfer of
power from British to Indian hands by June, 1948.
Approval of the 3rd June Plan
Lord Mountbatten soon began negotiation with the political leaders of India. After prolonged talks,
Mountbatten worked out a partition plan by middle of April, 1947. Then on 2nd May 1947, he sent that
plan to England for approval. The British Government approved the plan with certain amendments and
sent it back to India on 10th May, 1947. This draft was not accepted by Nehru and other Congress leaders.
Thus at the request of the Viceroy, Nehru and Memon prepared a revised partition plan which suited their
interests. Mountbatten took that plan to England and at the threat of his resignation got it approved by the
British Cabinet. He returned back to India on 31st May, 1947. The partition plan was made public on 3rd
June, 1947 and is known as 3rd June Plan.
Main Features of the 3rd June Plan:
Following were the main features of the plan:

i) The legislatures of Punjab and Bengal shall decide that whether the provinces should be divided or not.
ii) The Indian people shall make the constitution of India. This constitution shall not be applicable to
those areas whose people reject it.
iii) Referendum shall be held in NWFP.
iv) The province of Baluchistan shall adopt a proper way to decide its future.
v) States shall be free and independent to join one or the other country. Both countries shall have their
own Governor-General who will be the Executive Head of their respective countries.
vi) A boundary commission shall be set up to demarcate the boundaries of the two countries.
vii) Military assets shall be divided between the two countries after the partition.
Implementation of the Plan
The June 3rd Plan or the Mountbatten Plan was accepted by all three political parties of India. Thus,
finally, His Majesty's Government and the Viceroy concentrated on the implementation of the
Mountbatten Plan. The achievement of the plan included the verdicts of the provinces and parliamentary
legislation when partition was decided upon. The administrative services and armed forces needed to be
divided, assets and liabilities to be apportioned and the boundaries in the disputed areas to be settled.
1.Bengal Province:
The provincial Legislative Assembly met on 20 June in Bengal and decided to join the new Constituent
Assembly. The members from the non-Muslim majority areas of West Bengal decided by fifty-eight votes
to twenty-one that the province should be partitioned and that West Bengal should join the existing Indian
Constituent Assembly. On the other hand, the members from the Muslim majority areas of East Bengal
decided by 106 votes to thirty-five that the province should not be partitioned. The same majority also
voted that East Bengal should join a new Constituent Assembly and that Sylhet should be amalgamated
with that province. Though voting in Bengal was peaceful yet Punjab faced communal disorders.
2.Punjab Province:
The Punjab Legislative Assembly decided by ninety-one votes to seventy-seven to join a new Constituent
Assembly. The members from the Muslim majority areas of West Punjab decided, by sixty-nine votes to
twenty-seven, against the partition of the province. Whereas the members from the non-Muslim majority
areas of East Punjab decided, by fifty votes to twenty-two, that the province should be partitioned and laid
down that East Punjab should join the existing Indian Constituent Assembly.
3.Sindh Province:
The Sind Legislative Assembly met as well to decide by thirty votes to twenty to join a new Constituent
Assembly. The Congress claimed that the voters in the Labour and in the Commerce and Trade
constituencies of the district should be allowed to participate in the referendum. A majority of the voters
were in favour of separation and joining East Bengal.
4. NWFP Province:
Implementation of the Mountbatten Plan in the North-West Frontier Province was little bit difficult. The
situation was quite tense due to the communal conflicts in the region. The Mountbatten plan or the June
3rd Plan offered to the voters of the North-West Frontier Province Legislative Assembly the choice either
to join a new Constituent Assembly or to continue with the existing one. Another problem that arised in
the North-West Frontier Province was problem between Ghaffar Khan and Jinnah. Finally, East Bengal,
West Punjab, Sind, Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province all voted for Pakistan. Fresh
elections were held in Sylhet, in West and East Bengal, and in West and East Punjab, for the election of
representatives to the respective Constituent Assemblies.
5. Baluchistan Province:
In Baluchistan, the members of Shahi Jirga and the Municipality of Quetta decided in favour
of new constituent assembly.
6. Governor General’s Issue
Mountbatten wanted to be joint GG (Governor General) of India and Pakistan while ML decided to
appoint Jinnah as the first Governor General of Pakistan in July.
7.Transfer of Power
1st meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held on August 11, 1947 and the ceremonies on August 14.
Radio announcement was made at midnight 14-15 Aug. Oath taking ceremony for GG (Governor
General) and PM (Prime Minister) was held on August 15 1947.
3 major unresolved problems

There were then, three major unresolved problem of 3 June plan.
1. Firstly, there was the question of how much Pakistan was to receive of the financial and military
share of British India, which included ensuring that congress abided by the agreement once the
British left.
2. Secondly, there was the problem of those princely states who either wish to remain independent
or join country with which they did not share the border of religion.
3. Thirdly, the relationship of the British with the independent states of India and Pakistan had to be
decided. India had already accepted that Lord Mountbatten was to be the first governor-general of
India but the quid decided that he was to be Pakistan’s. This was to have serious consequence
later as Mountbatten would have his revenge on the state of Pakistan.

3rd June Plan

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3rd June plan

Approval of the 3rd June Plan

Main Features of the 3rd June Plan:

Following were the main features of the plan:

Implementation of the Plan

3 major unresolved problems

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