indian polity book series 8

Indian Union - Territories

Currently, the number of States in the country - 28, Union Territories - 8

Part 1 of the Constitution deals with the Indian Union and its territories.

Articles 1 to 4 describe the scope of Indian territory.

First Article

Name of India in the Indian Constitution - India, Bharat.

Our country's name is mentioned as India, that is Bharat. India is declared as a Union of States.

The word 'Federation' is nowhere in the Constitution.

In the Indian Constitution, India is referred to as the Union/Federation/Union of States.

The words Union/Federation are adopted from Canada.

Second Article

According to this, Parliament can, by law, annex new territories, transfer territories to other countries, and change the area and boundaries of existing states, and establish new states.

1. Through the 9th Constitutional Amendment (1960), the Berubari region was transferred to Pakistan.
2. Through the 35th Constitutional Amendment (1975), Sikkim was incorporated into India as a state.

Third Article

Describes the reorganization of states.

This bill can be introduced in either house of Parliament.

Through this -

1. A new state can be formed from one state.
2. Two or three states can be combined to form a state.
3. The area of a state can be reduced, boundaries can be changed.
4. The names of states can be changed.

The President's prior consent must be obtained for all of the above. Parliament can approve these with a simple majority.

In the case of a State Reorganization Bill, if one house approves and another house does not, a joint sitting of both houses is not convened.

Union of States / Federation / Union means states are separate but not separable.

In the case of State Reorganization Bills, the President seeks the consent of the states concerned.

Fourth Article

If amendments are made to the 2nd provision (Article) and 3rd provision (Article), the 1st Schedule and 4th Schedule must also be amended.

Formation of Linguistic States

1. Pioneers to attempt - Bengalis.
2. First people to attempt - Andhras.

Various Committees - Commissions:

* S.K. Dhar Commission (June 1948):

• Appointed by the Constituent Assembly. Its chairman - S.K. Dhar (Judge of Uttar Pradesh High Court).
• Members included Pannalal, Jagat Narayan Lal.
• This commission rejected linguistic states.

J.V.P. Committee (1948-1949):

• This was appointed by the Indian National Congress.
• Members of this committee - Jawaharlal Nehru (J), Vallabhbhai Patel (V), Pattabhi Sitaramayya (P).
• Merger of Andhra region in Madras - 1803 Act, 1806 Enforcement Act, Wellesley G.G.
• This committee also rejected linguistic states. But stated that the demand of Telugus could be considered.

Developments between 1951-1953:

For the formation of Andhra State, Gollapudi Sitaramasastri undertook a fast-unto-death from August 15, 1951, to September 20 for 35 days. He ended the fast on the advice of Acharya Vinoba Bhave.

On October 19, 1952, at Bulusu Sambamurthy's residence in Madras, Sri Potti Sriramulu started a fast-unto-death and died on the 58th day on December 15, 1952.

People in the Andhra region launched intense protests.

* On December 19, 1952, Nehru announced the formation of a separate Andhra State.

Wanchoo Committee (1953):

• In 1953, a committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Kailasnath Wanchoo, former Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court, regarding the modalities for the formation of Andhra State.
• Resolution was passed in 1927 Madras INC regarding the formation of linguistic states.

Formation of Andhra State:

To suggest modalities for the formation of Andhra State, the Central Government constituted the "Kailasnath Wanchoo" Committee on February 7, 1953.

Andhra State was formed on October 1, 1953, with 11 districts - Coastal Andhra-7, Rayalaseema-4 districts.

First state formed on a linguistic basis in India - Andhra State.

First linguistic university in the country - Andhra University.

Capital of Andhra State "Kurnool", High Court "Guntur" (1954).

First Chief Minister of Andhra State "Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu".

First Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra State "Neelam Sanjiva Reddy".

First Governor of Andhra State "Chandulal Trivedi".

First Speaker of the Andhra State Legislative Assembly "N. Venkatramayya".

Chief Justice of Andhra State "Koka Subba Rao". (First Andhraite to contest for President).

2nd and last Chief Minister of Andhra State "Bezawada Gopala Reddy". (1955-56).

Bezawada Gopala Reddy was the Chief Minister of Andhra State when Andhra Pradesh was formed.

Fazl Ali Commission:

In 1953, Fazl Ali Commission was constituted with two members (K.M. Panikkar, H.M. Kunzru) under the chairmanship of Fazl Ali.

This is called the first "SRC".

Submitted the report in 1955.

Recommended reorganization of states.

Based on this, Parliament enacted the States Reorganization Act in 1956.

Also made the 7th Constitutional Amendment.

Through this amendment, Part 7 was removed from the Constitution. Thus, various category states were abolished.

With this, 14 states and 6 union territories were formed in the country.

Andhra Pradesh was formed as part of the reorganization of states.

Andhra Pradesh was formed on November 1, 1956, by merging Telangana in Hyderabad State.

States (14), Union Territories (6) formed under the States Reorganization Act (1956):

States	Union Territories
1. Andhra Pradesh	1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
2. Assam	2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Bihar	3. Delhi
4. Bombay	4. Manipur
5. Jammu & Kashmir	5. Tripura
6. Kerala	6. Lakshadweep, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands
7. Madhya Pradesh
8. Madras
9. Mysore
10. Odisha
11. Punjab
12. Rajasthan
13. Uttar Pradesh
14. West Bengal