The State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970

The State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970 is an Act of the Parliament of India by which Himachal Pradesh was given the status of a full state of India. According to this Act, on 25 January 1971, the Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh became the 18th state of India.[2]

The State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970
Parliament of India
  • An Act to provide for the establishment of the State of Himachal Pradesh and for matters connected therewith.
Citation[1]
Passed byParliament of India
Passed18 December 1970
Status: In force

History edit

After the independence of India, the Chief Commissioner's Province of Himachal Pradesh was organised on 15 April 1948 as a result of the integration of 28 petty princely states (including feudal princes and zaildars) in the promontories of the western Himalayas. These were known as the Simla Hills States and four Punjab southern hill states under the Himachal Pradesh (Administration) Order, 1948 under Sections 3 and 4 of the Extra-Provincial Jurisdiction Act, 1947 (later renamed as the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947 vide A.O. of 1950). The State of Bilaspur was merged into Himachal Pradesh on 1 July 1954 by the Himachal Pradesh and Bilaspur (New State) Act, 1954.[3]

Himachal became a Part 'C' state on 26 January 1950 when Constitution of India came into effect and the Lieutenant Governor was appointed. The Legislative Assembly was elected in 1952. Himachal Pradesh became a union territory on 1 November 1956.[4] Some areas of Punjab State, namely, Simla, Kangra, Kullu and Lahul and Spiti Districts, Lohara, Amb and Una Kanungo circles, some areas of Santokhgarh Kanungo circle and some other specified area of Una Tehsil of Hoshiarpur District, as well as Kandaghat and Nalagarh Tehsils of erstwhile PEPSU State, besides some parts of Dhar Kalan Kanungo circle of Pathankot District—were merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1 November 1966 on the enactment by Parliament of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. [3] On 18 December 1970, the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament, and the new state came into being on 25 January 1971. Himachal became the 18th state of the Indian Union with Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar as its first chief minister.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "The State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970" (pdf). Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Post Independence Period - Government of Himachal Pradesh, India". himachal.nic.in. Government of Himachal Pradesh. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  3. ^ a b Verma 1995, pp. 239–254, Territorial Gains.
  4. ^ a b "History of Himachal Pradesh". National informatics center, Himachal Pradesh. Archived from the original on 21 November 2006. Retrieved 31 March 2008.