Page:White Paper on Indian States (1948).pdf/84



(1) There shall be formed, as soon as may be practicable, a Constituent Assembly in the manner indicated in Schedule II.

(2) It shall be the duty of the said Assembly to frame a Constitution for the United State within the framework of this Covenant and the Constitution of India, and providing for a government; responsible to the legislature.

(3) Until a Constitution so framed comes into operation after receiving the assent of the Baj Pramukh, the Legislative authority of the United State shall vest in the Raj Pramukh, who may make and promulgate Ordinances for the peace and good government of the United State or any part thereof, and any Ordinance so made shall have the like force of law as an Act passed by the legislature of the United State.

(1) The Ruler of each Covenanting State shall be entitled to receive annually from the revenues of the United State for his privy purse the amount specified against that Covenanting State in Schedule I.

(2) The said amount is intended to cover all the expenses of the Ruler and his family including expenses of his residences, marriages and other ceremonies, etc., and shall neither be increased nor reduced for any reason whatsoever.

(3) The Raj Pramukh shall cause the said amount to be paid to the Euler in four equal instalments at the beginning of each quarter in advance.

(4) The said amount shall be free of all taxes, whether imposed by the Government of the United State or by the Government of India.

(1) The Ruler of each Covenanting State shall be entitled to the full ownership, use and enjoyment of all private properties (as distinct from State properties) belonging to him on the date of his making over the administration of that State to the Raj Pramukh.

(2) He shall furnish to the Raj Pramukh before the 1st May 1948 an inventory of all the immovable properties, securities and cash balances held by him as such private property.

(3) If any dispute arises as to whether any item of property is the private property of the Ruler or State property, it shall be referred to such person as the Government of India may nominate, and the decision of that person shall be final and binding on all parties concerned;

Provided that no such dispute shall be so referable after the first day of May, 1949.

The Ruler of each Covenanting State, as also the members of his family, shall be entitled to all the personal privileges, dignities and titles enjoyed by them, whether within or outside the territories of the State immediately before the 15th August 1947.

(1) The succession, according to law and custom, to the gaddi of each Covenanting State, and to the personal rights, privileges, dignities and titles of the Euler thereof, is hereby guaranteed.