White Paper on Indian States (1950)/Part 5/Provincially-merged States/Baroda
105. Baroda.—Another State, this time a large administrative unit, taken over by the Bombay Government was Baroda which had an area of 8,236 square miles with a population of about 3 millions. Although the State had adequate resources to run and maintain an efficient administration it was divided into several areas interspersed with the territories of Bombay and Kathiawar, and this lack of geographical integrity rendered the administration of the State as one unit very difficult. In accordance with the advice of the Ministry of States and with the concurrence of his own Ministers the Ruler of Baroda agreed to the merger of the State with the Bombay Province and signed the agreement on 21st March, 1949 (Appendix XIX). The administration of the State was taken over by the Bombay Government on May 1, 1949.
APPENDIX XIX
BARODA MERGER AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT MADE THIS twentyfirst day of March 1949 between the Governor General of India and His Highness the Maharaja of Baroda.
WHEREAS in the best interests of the State of Baroda as well as of the Dominion of India it is desirable to provide for the administration of the said State by or under the authority of the Dominion Government;
IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:—
Article I
His Highness the Maharaja of Baroda hereby cedes to the Dominion Government full and exclusive authority, jurisdiction and powers for and in relation to the governance of the State and agrees to transfer the administration of the State to the Dominion Government on the 1st day of May 1949 (hereinafter referred to as "the said day").
As from the said day the Dominion Government will be competent to exercise the said powers, authority and jurisdiction in such manner and through such agency as it may think fit.
Article II
His Highness the Maharaja shall continue to enjoy the same personal rights, privileges, dignities and titles which he would have enjoyed had this agreement not been made.
Article III
His Highness the Maharaja shall with effect from the said day be entitled to receive from the revenues of the State annually for his Privy Purse the sum of Rs. 26,50,000 (Rupees Twenty six lakhs and fifty thousand only) free of all taxes. This amount is intended to cover all the expenses of the Ruler and his family, including expenses on account of his secretariat and personal staff, maintenance of big residences, marriages and other ceremonies, etc. and will neither be increased nor reduced for any reason whatsoever;
Provided that the sum specified above shall be payable only to the present Ruler of the State of Baroda and not to his successors for whom provision will be made subsequently by the Government of India.
The Government of India undertakes that the said sum of Rupees Twentysix lakhs and fifty thousand shall be paid to His Highness the Maharaja in four equal instalments in advance at the beginning of each quarter from the State treasury or at such other treasury as may be specified by the Government of India.
Article IV
His Highness the Maharaja shall be entitled to the full ownership, use and enjoyment of all private properties (as distinct from State properties) belonging to him on the date of this agreement.
His Highness the Maharaja will furnish to the Dominion Government before the 31st day of March 1949 an inventory of all the immovable property, securities and cash balance held by him as such private property.
If any dispute arises as to whether any item of property is the private property of His Highness the Maharaja or State property, it shall be referred to a judicial officer qualified to be appointed as a High Court Judge, and the decision of that officer shall be final and binding on both parties.
Article V
All the members of His Highness' 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.
Article VI
The Dominion Government guarantees the succession, according to Law and custom, to the gaddi of the State and to His Highness the Maharaja's personal rights, privileges, dignities and titles.
Article VII
No enquiry shall be made by or under the authority of the Government of India, and no proceedings shall lie in any Court in Baroda, against His Highness the Maharaja, 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.
Article VIII
(1) The Government of India hereby guarantees either the continuance in service of the permanent members of the Public Services of Baroda on conditions which will be not less advantageous than those on which they were serving before the date on which the administration of Baroda is made over to the Government of India or the payment of reasonable compensation.
(2) The Government of India further guarantees the continuance of pensions and leave salaries sanctioned by His Highness the Maharaja to members of the public services of the State who have retired or proceeded on leave preparatory to retirement, before the date on which the administration of Baroda is made over to the Government of India.
Article IX
Except with the previous sanction of the Government of India, 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 duties as a servant of the State before the day on which the administration is made over to the Government of India.
In confirmation whereof Mr. Vapal Pangunni Menon, Adviser to the Government of India in the Ministry of States has appended his signature on behalf and with the authority of the Governor General of India and His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh Gaekwar Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, G.C.I.E., Maharaja of Baroda has appended his signature on behalf of himself; his heirs and successors.
(Sd.) PRATAP SINGH GAEKWAR,
Maharaja of Baroda.
(Sd.) V. P. MENON,
New Delhi on 21st March 1949.