Section 1369 in The States Reorganisation Act, 1956
1369.
The States of India, as they exist today, have been formed largely as a result of historical accidents and circumstances, and there has, therefore, been a demand for the reorganisation of the component units of the Indian Union on a more rational basis, after taking into account not only the growing importance of the regional languages, but also financial, economic and administrative consideration. The States Reorganisation Commission was accordingly constituted in December, 1953, to investigate the conditions of this problem, the historical background, the existing situation and all other relevant factors, and to recommend the principles which could be considered appropriate as well as the broad lines on which particular Stales should he reorganized. The Commission reported on 30th September. 1955. The proposals contained in the report and the matters connected therewith have received attention all over the country and have been dis cussed in Parliament and State Legislatures. This Bill seeks to give effect to the scheme of reorganisation which has emerged as a result of these discussions.The main features of the reorganisation proposed are the abolition of the existing constitutional distinction between Part A, Pan B and Part C States, the establishment of two categories for the component units of the Union to he called States and Union territories, and the abolition of the institution of the Rajpramukh consequent on the disappearance of the Part B Slates. In this Bill, it is proposed to provide for the transfer of the Telangana area of Hyderabad to Andhra and the remaining of the enlarged State the transfer of certain areas from Travancore Cochin to Madras. the forming of the new States of Kerala, Mysore, Maharashtra and Gujarat, the merger of Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh and Bhopal with the Mahakosal area of Madhya Pradesh the merger of Ajmer with Rajasthan and the merger of the Patiala and East Punjab States Union with Punjab, Bombay, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will become Union territories. The Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands will also be treated as a Union territory. In view of the proposal for the amalgamation of Bihar and West Bengal which is under consideration, no provision has been made in this Bill for any territorial adjustments between these two States.The Bill makes the necessary supplemental and incidental provisions relating to representation in Parliament and in the State Legislatures, establishment of high Courts apportionment of assets and liabilities and other matters. It also makes provision for the setting up of use Zonal Councils which will he advisory bodies. competent to discuss matters of common interest, particularly in the field of economic and social planning.As required by the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution this Bill was referred by the President on the 16th March, 1956, to the Legislatures of the 12 Part A and Part B States affected by the scheme of reorganisation. and they were given one month's time for expressing their views. Except in the case of Travancore-Cochin, whose Legislative Assembly has since been dissolved by proclamation of the President, the views of the Legislatures of all the other States have been received and will be placed before Parliament for its consideration. - Gazette of India, 1956, Extra, Pt II - Section 2, page 278.[31st August, 1956.]An Act to provide for the reorganisation of the States of India and for matters connected therewith.BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:--
