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Provision of India Indefendence Act 1947
Provision of India Indefendence Act 1947
The Indian Independence Act was based upon the Mountbatten plan of 3rd June 1947 and was
passed by the British parliament on July 5, 1947. It received royal assent on July 18, 1947.
Salient features
It provided for two dominion states : India and Pakistan
The boundaries between the two dominion states were to be determined by a Boundary
Commission which was headed by Sir Cyril Radcliff.
It provided for partition of Punjab & Bengal and separate boundary commissions to demarcate
the boundaries between them.
Pakistan was to comprise the West Punjab, East Bengal, Territories of the Sind, North West
frontier provinces, Syllhat divisions of Assam, Bhawalpur, khairpur, Baluchistan and 8 other
princely states of Baluchistan.
The authority of the British Crown over the princely states ceased and they were free to join
either India or Pakistan or remain independent.
Both the dominions of India and Pakistan were to have Governor Generals to be appointed by
the British King. The act also provided for a common Governor general if both of them agreed.
The constituent assemblies of both the states were free to make constitutions of their respective
countries.
For the time being till the constitution was made, both of them would be governed in
accordance with the Government of India act 1935.
Any modification or omission could be done by the Governor General. British Government would
not continue any control on any dominion.
The Governor general was invested with adequate powers until March 1948 to issue orders for
effective implementation of the provisions of the Indian independence act 1947.
Those civil servants who had been appointed before the August 15, 1947, will continue in service
with same privileges.
Aftermath
Jinnah left for Karachi on August 7, 1947. Here the Constituent assembly of Pakistan met on
August 11, 1947 and elected him the President. Three days later he was sworn in as Governor
General of Pakistan. On the midnight of 14 August and 15 August 1947, India and Pakistan came
into existence. The Constituent assembly then appointed Lord Mountbatten as the First
Governor General of the Indian Dominion. In the Morning of August 15, 1947, a new cabinet
headed by Jawaharlal Nehru was sworn in. India paid a heavy price, thereafter in the form of
thousands of lives lost in the fire of partition.
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