Page:White Paper on Indian States (1950).pdf/30

 

32. The internal administration of the States and their political set-up varied greatly. There was a very wide difference in the degree of administrative efficiency reached by the most advanced and the most backward. According to the information circulated by the Chamber of Princes in 1946, over 60 States had set up some form of legislative bodies. In several others, schemes for associating people with the governance of their States were under consideration. In most of the cases, the development of representative institutions did not approximate to the growth of self-governing institutions in the Provinces, which were on the threshold of complete freedom. However, everywhere there was a growing consciousness of the rights and liberties of the people and a new spirit was abroad.

 

33. According to the Butler Committee the Indian States as they existed could be classified into three distinct categories:—

The first category included the Ruling Princes who enjoyed a permanent dynastic salute of 11 guns or more, together with other Rulers of the States who exercised such full or practically full internal powers as, in the opinion of the Viceroy, qualified them for individual admission to the Chamber. As a result of fresh admissions, the membership of the Chamber was enlarged to 140.

 

34. The Chamber was a deliberative, consultative, and advisory body, which was brought into being by a Royal Proclamation on 8th February, 1921. The Proclamation stated: "My Viceroy will take its (the Chamber's) counsel freely in matters relating to the territories of the Indian States generally, and in matters that affect those territories jointly with British India, or with the rest of My Empire." The establishment of the Chamber did not affect the individual relations between any State and the Crown,