Page:White Paper on Indian States (1950).pdf/281



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 day of 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 Ruler thereof, is hereby guaranteed.

(2) Every question of dispute succession in regard to a Covenanting State which arises after the inauguration of the Union shall be decided by the Council of Rulers after referring it to a bench consisting of all the available Judges of the High Court of the Union and in accordance with the opinion given by such bench.

No enquiry shall be made by or under the authority of the Union, and no proceedings shall lie in any court in the Union against the Ruler of any Covenanting State, whether in a Personal capacity or otherwise, in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by him or under his authority during the period of his administration of that State.

(1) The Union hereby guarantees either the continuance in service of the permanent members of the public services of each of the Covenanting States on conditions which will be not less advantageous than those on which they were serving on the 1st of February 1948 or the payment of reasonable compensation or retirement on proportionate pension.

(2) The Union further guarantees the continuance of pensions and leave salaries sanctioned by competent authorities in any of the Covenanting States to members of the public services of that State who have retired, or proceeded on leave preparatory to retirement, and the compassionate allowances granted to dependents of deceased members of those services; before the date on which the administration of that State is handed over to the Raj Pramukh.

Except with the previous sanction of the Raj Pramukh, no proceedings, civil or criminal, shall be instituted against any person in respect of any act done or purporting to be done in the execution of his duty as a servant