Page:White Paper on Indian States (1948).pdf/82

This page needs to be proofread.

76

Article II.

(1) The Covenanting States agree

(a) to unite and integrate their territories in State, with common executive, legislature and judiciary, by the name of "THE UNITED STATE OF RAJASTHAN, hereinafter referred to as the United State; and

(b) to include in the United State so established any other State the Ruler of which agrees with the approval of the Government of India to the merger of that State in the United State of Rajasthan.

(2) The terms of any such agreement of merger as is referred to in clause (b) of paragraph (1) of this Article shall be binding on the United State and shall be deemed to be part of this Covenant.

ARTICLE III.

(1) There shall be a Council of Rulers consisting of the Rulers of all the Covenanting States : Provided that no Ruler who is less than 21 years of age shall be * member of the Council.

(2) The present Rulers of Mewar, Kotab, Bundi and Dungarpur shall, respectively, be the first President, Senior Vice-President and Junior Vice- Presidents of the Council, and shall enter upon the duties of their respective offices on the 18th day of April 1948. The said President shall be entitled to hold office during his life time, and the said Vice-Presidents shall be entitled to hold office for a term of five years from the said date.

(3) Whenever a vacancy occurs or is about to occur in any of the offices referred to in paragraph (2), the Council of Rulers shall elect at a meeting a member to fill that vacancy, and any member so elected stall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon the duties thereof.

(4) The Ruler who is for the time being the President of the Council shall be the Raj Pramukh of the United State.

ARTICLE IV.

(1) There shall be paid to the present Raj Pramukh, during his tenure of office, from the revenues of the United State, a sum of rupees five lakhs per year as consolidated allowance in order that he may be enabled to dis- charge conveniently and with dignity the duties of his office.

(2) If the Raj Pramukh is, by reason of absence or illness or for any other reason unable to perform the duties of his office, those duties shall, until he has resumed them, be performed by the Senior Vice-President of the Council of Rulers. During such period-the Senior Vice-President shall be entitled to the same consolidated allowance as the Raj Pramukh.

ARTICLE V.

(1) There shall be a Council of Ministers to aid and advise the Raj Pramukh in the exercise of his functions except those under paragraph (2) of

Article VII.

(2) The Ministers shall be chosen by, and shall hold office during the pleasure of, the Raj Pramukh.