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Accession and the Instrument of Accession

Accession and the Instrument of Accession

Jammu and Kashmir · 2 min read

Before 1947

  • Jammu and Kashmir was a princely State under the Dogra dynasty. By the Treaty of Amritsar (1846) the British sold the Valley and surrounding areas to Gulab Singh for 75 lakh rupees. He became the first Maharaja.
  • The last ruler was Maharaja Hari Singh (1925 to 1949).
  • The Indian Independence Act, 1947 ended British paramountcy and allowed princely States to accede to India or Pakistan.

Events of 1947

DateEvent
Aug 1947Hari Singh signs a Standstill Agreement with Pakistan. India does not sign one.
22 Oct 1947Tribal raiders from Pakistan enter the State.
26 Oct 1947The Maharaja signs the Instrument of Accession to India.
27 Oct 1947Lord Mountbatten, Governor-General, accepts it. Indian troops are flown to Srinagar.
1 Jan 1948India takes the matter to the UN Security Council.
1 Jan 1949Ceasefire (the Line of Control later follows the Karachi Agreement, 1949 and the Simla Agreement, 1972).
  • The Instrument gave India control only of defence, external affairs and communications. It was the same as the one signed by other princely States.
  • Mountbatten's letter said the people would be consulted once the law and order was restored. This is the "reference to the people" India has cited.
  • Sheikh Abdullah became the head of the emergency administration in October 1947 and Prime Minister in 1948.

Key points

  • Art 1 lists J&K as one of the States of India since 1950.
  • Maharaja Hari Singh stepped aside in 1949, and his son Karan Singh became Regent, then Sadr-i-Riyasat (1952).
  • The Constituent Assembly of J&K was elected in 1951. It adopted the Constitution of J&K on 17 November 1956, which came into force on 26 January 1957.

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Prepared for exam revision from the Constitution of India and standard sources. Office-holders and recent developments change, so check official sources before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.