Section 1854 in The Exchange Of Prisoners Act, 1948
1854.
Statement of Objects and Reasons. - On account of the wholesale exodus of non-Muslims from West Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, and certain other areas of West Pakistan, it became necessary to arrange for an exchange of prisoners from these areas. Negotiations were started with Pakistan and a general agreement was arrived at. The agreement worked for sometime and a large number of non-Muslim prisoners were received from West Punjab and all Muslim prisoners except about 300 were returned to Pakistan from East Punjab.To implement and validate this exchange of prisoners, the Governor-General passed an Ordinance (Exchange of Prisoners Ordinance, No. VI of 1948) which was promulgated on 20th April, 1948.The exchange of prisoners has not been completed yet and some of the provisions of the Ordinance will have to be kept in force even after such exchange is completed, for example, sections 5 and 8. It is, therefore, considered desirable to re-enact all the provisions of the Ordinance in the form of an Act of the Legislature. The present Bill, therefore, seeks to replace the Ordinance which expires on the 20th October, 1948, by an Act. - Gazette of India, 1948, Pan V, page 631.[10th September, 1948.]An Act to provide, in pursuance of an agreement with Pakistan for the exchange of prisoners, for the transfer of certain prisoners from India to Pakistan and the reception in India of certain prisoners from Pakistan.WHEREAs an agreement has been reached between the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan for the exchange of certain classes of prisoners between the two countries;AND WHEREAS it is necessary to provide in pursuance of the said agreement for the transfer of certain prisoners from India to Pakistan and for the reception in India of certain prisoners from Pakistan;It is hereby enacted as follows :-
