ADMINISTRATION & CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

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1948 TO 1971 - HIMACHAL PRADESH HISTORY :

Himachal Pradesh came into being on 15th April, 1948 by integrating 30 big and small hill states. It had been administered by a Chief Commissioner and advised in the discharge of his functions by an Advisory Council Consisting of 9 members, 3 of whom represented the erstwhile princely States and 6 being public representatives

 

 

1ST CHIEF COMMISSIONER : NC MEHTA VICE CHIEF COMMISSIONER : E. PENDRAL MOON

 

These State were: Baghat, Bhajji, Baghal, Bija, Balsen, Bushehar, Chamba, Darboti, Deloth-Dhadi, Dhami, Ghund, Jubbal, Khaneti Kyarhoti, Kumarsain, Kunnihar, Kuthar, Mandi, Madhan, Mahlog, Mangal, Kot (Ratesh), Keonthal, Rawinigarh, Sangri, Sirmour Suhet, Tharoch, Theog etc.

 

Four districts were constituted at that time: Chamba, Mahasu, Mandi and Sirmour with a area of 27,169 sq. Kms.

 

In September, 1951, Government of  India passed 'Part 'C States Act under that Act, the state administration was kept under Lieutenant Governor with 36 member Legislative Assembly. HP remained Part  “C” State of the Indian Union till 1956.

LT. GOVERNOR : GEN. HIMMAT SINGH

ELECTIONS :

 First election to the Assembly were held in Nov. 1952

Congress won 24 seats , & Y.S.Parmar sworn as the first Chief Minister of State. On 24th March, 1952. Cabinet was formed by the Chief Minister. Pandit Padam Dev and Gauri Prasad elected Cabinet Members.

1ST CHIEF MINSITER : YS PARMAR 1ST SPEAKER : JAIWANT RAM

 

In 1^ST July 1954; Bilaspur, another part-C State, was merged with Himachal Pradesh  having 1167 sq kms and the strength of its Assembly was raised to 41.

 

In 1956, despite majority recommendation of the States Reorganization Commission for its merger with Punjab, Himachal Pradesh retained its separate identity, thanks to the famous dissenting note of the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Sh. Fazal Ali and K.M. Panikar & H.N. Kungru as its members. which found favour with the Centre. But a great price had to be paid as Himachal was made a Union Territory sans Legislative Assembly and was placed under an Administrator designated as Lt. Governor.  

 

On 1st November, 1956 Himachal became Union Territory

Lieutenant Governor Raja Bajrang Bahadur appointed as the Chief administrator of Union Territory.

 

Territorial Council : It was created by passing of Territorial  Council Act 1956. Thakur Karam Singh was elected as the Chairman of this Council.

 

In 1960, the Border Chinni tehsil of Mahasu district was carved out as a separate administrative unit and distt. Kinnaur was formed raising the total number of districts to rise.

 

In 1963, when a bill was passed by the Union Parliament for providing Legislative Assemblies and Council of Ministers to certain Union Territories including H.P.It was enforced in the case of Himachal Pradesh from Ist July, 1963 after receiving President's assent. The Territorial Council was converted into a Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory. The strength of the Assembly was fixed at 43 including 2 nominated members.

 

1st July, 1963 : YS Parmar became Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh for second time with two Cabinet Ministers i.e. Karam Singh and Hari Dass.

 

The strength of the House was further raised to 63 (60 elected and 3 nominated) after Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966 came into force in 1967.

On 1st November, 1966 the then Punjab State was reorganized with the formation of Haryana as a separate State and Kullu, Kangra, Shimla and some hilly areas of Hoshiarpur district and Dalhousie of Gurdaspur district merged into HP and four new districts formed viz. Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Kangra and Shimla. With the merger of new areas into Himachal Pradesh In 1966, the number of Members in the House rose to 56 including 2 nominated.

 

H.P. status as Union Territory continued till the conferment of Statehood on 25^th  January, 1971. 

 

 Finally it was on January 25, 1971 that a big leap forward was taken and HIMACHAL PRADESH made its debut as the 18th State of the Union of India. .

 

HP constituted of ten districts, an area of 55,673 kilometres and population 28.12 lakh (1961 census).

 

On 1st September, 1972 two more districts viz Hamirpur and Una were created by trifurcation of Kangra districts.

 

Mahasu and Shimla districts were recoganised as Shimla & Solan districts on 1st September, 1972.

 

After delimitation of Assembly seats in the year 1971-72, the number of Members in the Assembly now stands at 68.