Indian Independence Act 1947

Indian Independence Act 1947

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make provision for the setting up in India of two independent Dominions, to substitute other provisions for certain provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, which apply outside those Dominions, and to provide for other matters consequential on or connected with the setting up of those Dominions.
Citation	10 & 11 Geo. 6 c. 30
Dates
Royal assent	18 July 1947

The Indian Independence Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo 6 c. 30) was as an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan. The Act received the royal assent on 18 July 1947, and the two new countries came into being on 15 and 14 August respectively.

The legislation was formulated by the government of Prime Minister Clement Attlee, after representatives of the Indian National Congress, the Muslim League, and the Sikh community 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.

The background to the Act

Attlee’s announcement

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Clement Attlee, announced on 20 February 1947 that:

1. British Government would grant full self government to British India by June 1948 at the latest,
2. The future of Princely States would be decided after the date of final transfer is decided

3 June Plan

The British government proposed a plan announced on 3 June 1947 that included these principles:

1. Principle of Partition of India was accepted by the British Government
2. Successor governments would be given dominion status
3. Implicit right to secede from the British Commonwealth

The Indian Independence Act 1947 was the implementation of June 3 Plan.

The Act's provisions

The Act's most important provisions were:

• the division of British India into the two new and fully sovereign dominions of India and Pakistan, with effect from 15 August 1947;
• the partition of the provinces of Bengal and Punjab between the two new countries;
• the establishment of the office of Governor-General in each of the two new countries, as representative of the Crown;
• the conferral of complete legislative authority upon the respective Constituent Assemblies of the two new countries;
• the termination of British suzerainty over the princely states, with effect from 15 August 1947, and recognized the right of states to accede to either dominion
• the dropping of the use of the title "Emperor of India" by the British monarch (this was subsequently done by King George VI by royal proclamation on 22 June 1948).

The Act also made provision for the division of joint property, etc. between the two new countries, including in particular the division of the armed forces.

Aftermath

Dominion of India

Lord Mountbatten of Burma, the last Viceroy, was retained as the Governor-General of India. Jawaharlal Nehru became the Prime Minister of India and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel became the Deputy Prime Minister of India. Over 560 princely states, including Jammu and Kashmir, acceded to India, with the states of Junagadh and Hyderabad annexed after military action.

Dominion of Pakistan

Muhammad Ali Jinnah became the Governor-General of Pakistan, and Liaquat Ali Khan became the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Three princely states geographically inalienable to Pakistan joined the Dominion.

Partition

Main articles: Partition of India and Radcliffe Line

There was much violence as many Muslims from what would become India fled to Pakistan; and Hindus from what would become Pakistan fled to India. Many people left behind all their possessions and property, to avoid the violence and flee to their new country.

See also

• Pakistan Movement
• Indian independence movement
• Political integration of India

References

• "Indian Independence Act 1947 (c.30)" (PDF). Original Statute from The UK Statute Law Database. Office of Public Sector Information, National Archives, UK. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
• "Indian Independence Act 1947 (c.30)". Revised Statute from The UK Statute Law Database. Office of Public Sector Information, National Archives, UK. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
• "Parliament and India, 1858–1947". United Kingdom Parliament. Retrieved 2008-06-02.