White Paper on Indian States (1950)/Part 5/Provincially-merged States/Khasi Hill States

by Ministry of States, Government of India

112. Khasi Hill States.—The Khasi Hill States on the north east of India were not affected by the process of integration until the inauguration of the new Constitution. These are for the most part occupied by tribal people. The Rulers were designated as Siems. The succession to the gaddi was not in all cases hereditary; the new Siem was generally elected by the people. Before the 15th August, 1947, the relations of the Crown Representative with the Khasi Hill States were conducted through the Governor of Assam. In practice the administration of the Hill States was in great measure assimilated to that of the Province of Assam partly by the application of the British Indian laws under the Foreign Jurisdiction Order in Council and partly by administrative measures adopted with the concurrence of the Khasi Chiefs.

113. The Khasi Hill States had formed a Federation of their own and had both individually and collectively acceded to the Dominion of India subject to the provisions of an Agreement. The Instrument of Accession (Appendix XXV) empowered the Dominion Legislature to make laws for the Khasi States in respect of any matter. The Agreement (Appendix XXVI), which formed part of the Instrument of Accession, provided inter alia for unified legislation on subjects of common interest to Assam and the Khasi Hill States. Constitutionally therefore the position of the Khasi Hill States Federation approximated to that of a Chief Commissioner's Province.

114. One solution for these areas was to merge them outright with the surrounding Province of Assam. It was, however, considered desirable to preserve some of the tribal traditions and customs of the Khasi States. Accordingly under the Constitution of India the Khasi States have been included in the Sixth Schedule along with Assam tribal areas. According to the provisions of this Schedule a large measure of local autonomy has been conceded to the District Councils in the tribal areas. With the coming into force of the Constitution of India, the Khasi Hill States, along with the adjoining tribal district of Assam known as 'Jaintia Hill District' have been constituted into a separate autonomous district of Assam known as "United Khasi-Jaintia Hill District".

APPENDIX XXV

INSTRUMENT OF ACCESSION OF (the Khasi Hill States mentioned in the statement attached).

We the rulers of the Khasi States specified below;

Having agreed to the establishment of a Federation of which all the said Khasi States are members;

And being desirous of acceding to the Dominion of India, individually as Rulers of the said Khasi States and collectively as members of the said Federation;

Do hereby declare that we accede to the Dominion of India with the intent that the Governor General of India, the Dominion Legislature, the Federal Court and any other Dominion authority shall, by virtue of this our Instrument of Accession, but subject always to the terms thereof, and for purposes only of the Dominion, exercise in relation to the said Khasi States such functions as may be vested in them by or under the Government of India Act, 1935, as for the time being in force in the Dominion of India (which Act as so in force is hereinafter referred to as "the Act").

2. WE hereby assume the obligation of ensuring that due effect in given to the provisions of the Act within the said Khasi States so far as they are applicable therein by virtue of this our Instrument of Accession.

3. SUBJECT to the provisions of the annexed Agreement (which shall be regarded as part of this our Instrument of Accession) we accept that the Dominion Legislature may make laws for the said Khasi States in respect of any matter.

(Signed by the Siems of the⁠
Khasi Hill States on the dates

shown in the statement attached.)

I do hereby accept this Instrument of Accession.

Dated this seventeenth day of August, Nineteen hundred and forty-eight.

C. RAJAGOPALACHARI,

Governor General of India.

Statement showing the list of Khasi Hill States which have signed the Instrument of Accession, the date of execution of the Instrument and the date of its acceptance by the Governor-General.

S. No.

Name of the State

Date of execution of the Instrument of Accession

Date of acceptance by the Governor-General

1

Khyrium State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

15-12-47

17-3-48

2

Mylliem State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

3

Cherra State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

4

Nongstein State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

19-3-48

Do.

5

Rambrai State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

17-3-48

Do.

6

Myriam State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

..

Do.

7

Mobosohphoh State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

11-1-48

Do.

8

Nongspung State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

..

Do.

9

Nongkhlaw State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

15-12-47

Do.

10

Bhowal State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

11

Jirang State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

12

Makaram State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

13

Mawasynram State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

14

Langrin State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

15

Mawrang State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

16

Malai Sohmat State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

17

Mawphlang State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

18

Sohiong State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

19

Lyniong State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

20

Shella Confederacy •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

21

Mawlong State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

10-3-48

Do.

22

Nonglwai State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

15-12-47

Do.

23

Pamsanugut State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

15-12-47

Do.

24

Mawdon State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

25

Dwara Nongtynmen State •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •          •

Do.

Do.

APPENDIX XXVI

AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY THE FEDERATION OF KHASI STATES

1. The Federation of Khasi States, hereinafter referred to es "the Federation", agrees that all existing administrative arrangements between the Dominion of India and the Province of Assam on the one hand and the Khasi States on the other hand shall, with the exceptions noted below, continue in force until new or modified arrangements have been arrived at between the respective authorities concerned.

2. The exceptions referred to above will be as follows:—

Judicial Powers—

(a) The Federation will set up a competent Court of the Federation to exercise the judicial functions formerly vested in the Political Officer.

(b) In matters of customary law there will be no appeal from the Court of the Federation. In other cases, as at present, an appeal will lie to the Governor until a High Court of Assam is established when such appeal will lie to the Assam High Court.

(c) The judicial authority now exercised by State Courts in respect of Khasis will be maintained.

(d) In regard to all non-Khasis the judicial arrangements now existing will continue for the present except that the judicial powers of the Political Officer will be vested in the Court of the Federation when its competence is recognised. Where non-Khasis have voluntarily agreed to submit to the jurisdiction of a State Court that Court will continue to be the original trying court.

(e) Where State Courts comply with certain conditions to be laid down they may be vested with First, Second or Third Class Powers as defined in the Criminal Procedure Code and their jurisdiction would then include both Khasis and non-Khasis. The appointment of magistrates to the States' Courts and to the Court of Federation will be subject to the approval of the Governor in regard to their judicial competence. The Chief Justice of the Assam High Court, when established, will assume this power now vested in the Governor.

Administrative Powers—

With the exception of the following three subjects all the remaining administrative functions would be common with the Central or Provincial Government under the terms of the standstill arrangement outlined in paragraph 1 above.

Exceptions.—1. Excise—Subject to agreement with the Provincial Government regarding the fixing of duty, etc.

2. Forests—The Chief Conservator would act in an advisory capacity to the Federation in regard to the management and control of the Forests.

3. Land and water rights and the revenue derived therefrom.

3. Revenue—

The member States of the Federation have agreed that the balance of the Khasi States Deposit Account should be handed over to the Federation and that future payments to this Deposit Account should also be made over to the Federation until fresh arrangements have been reached in regard to the contributions to be paid to the Federation by individual States.

4. Khasi Territory in the Province—

The Federation request that all possible help should be given to facilitate the unification of all Khasi territory.

All Khasi villages which desired to rejoin States of which they had formerly formed a part should be allowed to do so.

Other Khasi territory in the Province should, if they desired, be allowed to join the Federation as units.

5. Legislation—

In matters of legislation concerning subjects of common interest passed by the Assam Legislature there should be some machinery either by representation in that Legislature or otherwise set up whereby the legislation, where necessary, can be adopted or modified to suit the conditions and circumstances existing in the Khasi Hill.