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part of the Bombay Province under the Governor-General's Order No. 127-P, dated 19th January, 1948 (Appendix XV).
104. Sirohi.—The Government of Bombay took over, on behalf of the Government of India, the administration of the small State of Sirohi with effect from January 5, 1949, in pursuance of an agreement signed by the Regent Maharani on behalf of the minor Ruler (Appendix XVI). There was some difference of opinion as to whether this State should be merged in Bombay or should be integrated in Rajasthan. It was therefore decided that until the future of the State was finally determined, the Bombay Government should conduct its administration on behalf of the Government of India. The position was later reviewed and it was decided to merge Abu Road tehsil and a portion of Dilwara tehsil with Bombay and to integrate the remaining portion in Rajasthan. This decision has been implemented by means of an order under Section 290A of the Government of India Act, 1935, issued in respect of the areas merged into Bombay and a notification under the Extra-Provincial Jurisdiction Act, issued in respect of the areas to be merged into Rajasthan (Appendices XVII and XVIII).
105. Baroda.—Another State, this time a large administrative unit, taken over by the Bombay Government was Baroda which had an area of 8,236 square miles with a population of about 3 millions. Although the State had adequate resources to run and maintain an efficient administration it was divided into several areas interspersed with the territories of Bombay and Kathiawar, and this lack of geographical integrity rendered the administration of the State as one unit very difficult. In accordance with the advice of the Ministry of States and with the concurrence of his own Ministers the Ruler of Baroda agreed to the merger of the State with the Bombay Province and signed the agreement on 21st March, 1949 (Appendix XIX). The administration of the State was taken over by the Bombay Government on May 1, 1949.
106. States Merged in East Punjab.—Loharu, Dujana and Pataudi were tiny States within the boundaries of East Punjab. Geographically and for all administrative purposes these States formed part of East Punjab. The Rulers agreed to merge their States with East Punjab and signed the necessary agreements on 17th February, 3rd March and 18th March, 1948, respectively. The administration of these States was taken over soon after by the East Punjab Government. These three States together form an area of 370 square miles with a population of about 80,000.
