Home Department (India)
New Delhi, January 20, 1947
During the past two or three weeks the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for India has been engaged in discussions in New Delhi with the Home, Defence and Finance Members of the Government of India, on the question of compensation for civil officers appointed by the Secretary of State and officers of the Indian Armed Forces, whose services may be prematurely terminated for constitutional reasons. These discussions are now concluded, and Mr. Henderson is returning to London to report to His Majesty’s Government.
No. 28/1/47-G.S.
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Works of Defence Act, 1903 (VII of 1903), the Central Government is pleased to declare that the lands described in the Schedule below are needed for a public purpose, viz., for the construction of a Rifle Range at Garchuk in the village of Garchuk, Mouza Garchuk, P.S. Amingaon, District Kamrup, Assam.
(Schedule not included in this extract)
No. F. 92-3/47-E.I.
In continuation of this Department’s Resolution No. F. 92-22/46-E.I., dated the 18th January 1947, the Governor-General in Council is pleased to decide to extend, until the 31st August 1947, the terms of office of all the members of the Commission whose term of office had expired on the 1st April 1947 in accordance with the orders contained in the said Resolution.
Department of Transport (India)
No. E-7, 573-XXX
With reference to this Department’s Notification No. E-7, 573, dated the 29th January 1947, the following further amendment shall be made in the General Rules for all open lines of Railways in India administered by the Government, published with the notification of the Government of India in the late Department of Commerce and Industry, No. 801, dated the 24th March 1905, namely: –
In the Schedule appended to Part III of the said Rules, after Serial No. 63-A, in column 3, the following words shall be included, namely:-
“or sound sealed tins or drums”.
No. F. 45-Ex. I/47
In exercise of the powers conferred by rule 6 of the Indian Railway (Local Authorities’ Taxation) Rules, 1942, the Central Government is pleased to declare that the tolls leviable by the Naihati Municipality under the Bengal Local Self-Government Act, 1885, shall be leviable in respect of the railways of the Eastern Bengal Railway Administration in the said Municipality as from the date of this notification.
Railway Department (India) (Railway Board)
New Delhi, the 30th July 1947
RESOLUTION
No. F. 92-3/47-E.I.
In view of the impending constitutional and political changes in the country, the Government of India have decided to postpone the question of appointment of members to the Commission until the future of the Commission has been finally decided. Lest the work of the Commission should be hampered in any way during this interim period, the Government of India have decided that the Secretary of the Commission should be authorized to carry on current work. The Governor-General in Council is pleased to authorize the Secretary to the Commission to sign on behalf of the Commission all routine papers and other communications which do not involve any question of policy or principle.
No. F. (X)II-47/TX-1612
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Railways (Local Authorities’ Taxation) Act, 1941 (XXIII of 1941), the Central Government is pleased to declare that the Administration of the Bengal Assam Railway and the East Indian Railway shall be liable to pay, in aid of the funds of the local authority specified in Column I of the Schedule annexed hereto, the tax specified in Column II thereof.
| Local Authority | Tax |
|---|---|
| Naiheti Municipality | Lighting Tax. |
No. 728-TG
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 47 of the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (IX of 1890), and by the notification of the Government of India in the late Department of Commerce and Industry, No. 801, dated the 24th March 1905, the Railway Board directs that the following further amendment shall be made in the General Rules for all open lines of Railways in British India administered by the Government, published with the notification of the Government of India in the Railway Department (Railway Board), No. 1075-T, dated the 9th March 1939, namely:-
In the Schedule appended to Part III of the said Rules, after Serial No. 63-A, in column 3, the following words shall be included, namely:-
“or sound sealed tins or drums”.
Department of Industries and Supplies
Bombay, the 15th July 1947
No. 84-TA/47
In exercise of the powers conferred on me by clause 21 of the Cotton Cloth and Yarn (Control) Order, 1945, and with the sanction of the Central Government, I hereby direct that the following further amendment shall be made in the Textile Commissioner’s Notification No. T.C.(40)/46, dated the 19th January 1946, namely:-
In the said notification for entry No. 3, the following entry shall be substituted, namely:-
“3. Mr. A. G. D. Madgavkar – Director (Yarn).”
(Similar notifications (i) through (vii) follow, all amending various Textile Commissioner’s notifications by substituting or deleting the name of Mr. A. G. D. Madgavkar in the role of Director (Yarn).)
No. 130-TA/47
In exercise of the powers conferred on me by clause 10 of the Cotton Cloth and Yarn (Control) Order, 1945, I hereby direct that notwithstanding anything contained in the notifications of the Textile Commissioner No. 34-Tes.A (13)/2/43, dated 31st December 1943, No. T.C.(17)/45, dated 1st February 1945, No. T.C.(17)Pb. 16, dated the 5th April 1946 and No. T.C.(17)/45, dated the 30th January 1945: a dealer in the Province of the Punjab may recover in addition to the price of the cloth or yarn sold by him a sum not exceeding the amount of the charges for insuring riot risk and fire caused by civil commotion paid by him in respect of such cloth or yarn, or recovered from him by the dealer who sold it to him with the consent and approval of the Provincial Government:
Provided that such addition shall be shown separately in the seller’s invoice or cash memorandum and the total amount of the invoice or memorandum shall be rounded off to the nearest anna.
Home Department (India)
New Delhi, the 25th July 1947
No. 50/11/47-I-Poll(EW)
The Governor-General-in-Council has by order dated the 25th July 1947, revoked the certificate of naturalisation granted to JOHN ANASTASIS SOTHIANOS on the 16th October, 1931, under the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, and has also directed that MRS. ANNA SOTHIANOS nee CHRISSOLOURA, the wife, and IVE SOTHIANOS, the minor child, of the said JOHN ANASTASIS SOTHIANOS, shall cease to be British subjects.
No. 65/15/47-Public(B)
In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (XXVI of 1881), the Central Government is pleased to declare Friday, the 15th and Saturday the 16th August 1947 to be public holidays throughout the Dominion of India in celebration of the inauguration of the new Dominion of India.
New Delhi, the 30th July 1947
No. 27/10/46-Ests.
The following amendments made by the Secretary of State in the Premature Retirement Rules, 1937, are published for general information:-
“I, William Francis, Earl of Listowel, one of His Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State, in virtue of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 247 and sub-section (2) of Section 257 of the Government of India Act, 1935, hereby make, with the concurrence of my Advisers, the following amendments in the Premature Retirement Rules, namely:-
A. For Rule 2 of the said rules the following shall be substituted, namely:-
“2. The following officers may be permitted by the Secretary of State to retire under these rules.
(a) any officer appointed by the Secretary of State or Secretary of State in Council to a Superior Civil Service, as specified in the First Schedule, or a civil post under Government in India and whose pay is charged on the revenues of India;
(b) any officer holding a permanent Commission in His Majesty’s Land Forces and any officer of the Royal Indian Navy, other than an officer of the Royal Indian Naval Reserve, the Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve or a Commissioned Warrant Officer who holds a post on the cadre of a Superior Civil Service or a post reserved for officers of His Majesty’s Forces;
(c) any officer belonging to the Indian Political Service:
Provided that
(i) no officer shall be eligible to retire under these rules who is certified to be physically unfit for further service in India;
(ii) with effect from such date and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may prescribe, officers to whom these rules apply shall be deemed to have been permitted to retire under these rules and shall be entitled to the benefits provided thereunder;
(iii) officers released by the Governor-General (or Crown Representative) with entitlement to compensation or resettlement grant shall be deemed to have been permitted to retire under these rules and shall be entitled to the benefits provided thereunder.”
B. For Rule 9 of the said rules the following shall be substituted, namely:-
“9. The right of any officer to receive or retain a pension under the provisions of these rules is subject to the right of the Secretary of State to reduce or withhold any pension if the past service of the applicant is not approved or if the pensioner after retirement is convicted of a serious crime or is guilty of grave misconduct.”
C. For the First Schedule the following shall be substituted, namely:-
FIRST SCHEDULE
(See Rule 2)
Officers to whom these Rules apply
Superior Civil Services referred to in Rule 2.
(a) The Indian Civil Service.
(b) The Indian Police.
(c) The Indian Forest Service.
(d) The Indian Forest Engineering Service.
(e) The Indian Educational Service.
(f) The Indian Agricultural Service.
(g) The Indian Service of Engineers.
(h) The Indian Veterinary Service.
(i) The Indian Medical Service (Civil).
(j) The Central Services Class I as listed in the Classification, Control and Appeal Rules.
(k) The Railway Services Class I.
Explanatory Note.
(This note is not part of the Rule but is intended to indicate its general purport).
As a result of the constitutional changes in India it is necessary to bring within the scope of the Premature Retirement Rules those members of the Secretary of State’s Services who have now to serve under a Ministerial Government. The opportunity has been taken to bring the rules up to date.
H. C. DAS, Dy. Secy.”
Department of Commerce (India)
New Delhi, the 21st August 1947
No. 605-I(4)/46
In pursuance of sub-section (2) of section 9 of the Insurance Act, 1938 (IV of 1938), the Central Government is pleased to notify the Indian State of Mysore for the purposes of the said sub-section.
Home Department (India)
No. 108-H.
His Imperial Majesty the King, Emperor of India, has been graciously pleased to award the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal to the following officer:-
Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh, Superintendent of Police, Datia State, Central India.
His Excellency the Viceroy has been pleased to award the Indian Police Medal to the following officer:-
Ram Singh, Circle Inspector of Police, Datia State, Central India.
Statement of services for which these decorations have been awarded is as follows. — On the 26th September 1946, information was received by the dewan of Datia State that two deserters from the State Police, Constables Sita Ram and Kishori Lal were hiding in a small hill-top fort in Datia State near Unchu Math. The fort had loopholed walls, fortified roof and a single door. These constables were believed to be in possession of two .303 rifles and plenty of ammunition.
On the morning of 28th September Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh, Superintendent of Police, Datia State, accompanied by a party of Jhansi Police and a contingent of State infantry went to the Math to arrest the two men. On arrival they were met with heavy fire which was returned by one of the men of the Jhansi District Police Force. The mother of Kishori Lal, one of the deserters, who was brought by Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh’s party was sent to the Math to reason with her son. She returned with the message that the deserters wanted to speak to an officer of the Datia State Police who should go forward unarmed for negotiation with them.
Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh thereupon went unarmed to the base of the Math. Inspector Harnam Singh of the Datia State Police and a Deputy Superintendent of the Jhansi Police also proceeded with the Sardar Bahadur with their arms hidden. These officers parleyed with the two desperate armed men, and tried to induce them to surrender. After some time, Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh entered the Math alone for a freer discussion. He was, however, not entirely cut off from the rest of his party, and kept in touch with them. Negotiations failed and fire was opened on both sides. The encounter, in which hand grenades and a sten gun were used, lasted for several hours, and during most of this time Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh and Inspector Harnam Singh of the Datia State Police and also a Head Constable Bhoop Singh of the Jhansi Police faced great danger with the utmost courage and coolness. In the end Sita Ram shot himself through the heart. Kishori Lal was captured. Two rifles and 175 rounds of ammunition were recovered.
In handling this dangerous enterprise without any loss Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh and Inspector Harnam Singh rendered most valuable service and displayed high courage.
No. 112-H.
His Imperial Majesty the King, Emperor of India, has been graciously pleased to award the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal to the following officer:-
Name of officer and rank. — Raj Singh (deceased), Constable No. 36, District Saran, Bihar.
Statement of services for which the decoration has been awarded. — On the 31st of March 1947, Constable Raj Singh while returning from patrol noticed a crowd near village Mathpura and was informed by the village Chowkidar that an agrarian riot was imminent. The constable immediately proceeded to the spot and intervened. In his efforts to bring about a settlement he was attacked by one of the parties. Except for the village Chowkidar, he was without assistance. Constable Raj Singh, nevertheless, put up a determined resistance, but sustained a fatal wound in the abdomen from a spear. By his courageous devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds, the Constable set an admirable example to the Force.
This award is made for gallantry under regulation (6)(a) of the Regulations governing the grant of the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal and consequently carries with it the special allowance admissible to officers of and below the rank of Inspector of Police.
Legislative Department (India)
No. F. 5-1/47-A.
In accordance with the provisions of rule (9) of rule 14 of the Legislative Assembly Electoral Rules, the name of the following candidate, who has been declared to be elected as a member of the said Assembly by the constituency mentioned opposite his name, is hereby published:-
Mr. A. K. A. C. Shillong (Shillong Parliamentary Constituency).
No. P. 3/47-L.T.A.T.
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 5A of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (XI of 1922), the Central Government is pleased to appoint Rai Bahadur B. K. Mukerji to be an Accountant Member of the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal vice Mr. A. L. Sahni, whose services have been placed at the disposal of the Department of Works, Mines and Power with effect from the forenoon of the 20th July 1947, or until further orders.
Press Information Bureau, Government of India
(Unofficial Notes)
RE-EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRED OFFICERS
The Central Government, it is understood, are considering the re-employment of retired officers in certain Superior Secretariat and non-Secretariat posts. The type of officers the Central Government have in view are those who before retirement had put in at least one year’s service as Collector, District Magistrate or in some judicial or non-judicial I.C.S. post or in a Class I Central Service post carrying a pay of not less than Rs. 1,000 per month. Such officers, desirous of being considered for re-employment, will, it is learnt, have to apply to the Home Department, Government of India, New Delhi on or before May 15, 1947.
They will be required, it is understood, to furnish such particulars as the date of retirement, post held at the time of retirement, the pay drawn and full details of service rendered under Government and details of employment, if any, after retirement etc.
Finance Department
New Delhi, the 29th July 1947
No. F. 11(1)-Ests. (Spl.)/47
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 241, read with sub-section (3) of section 313, of the Government of India Act, 1935, the Governor-General in Council is pleased to make the following rules, namely: –
- These rules may be called the Central Civil Services (Revision of Pay) Rules, 1947.
- In these rules unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,–
(a) “basic pay” means the amount drawn monthly by a Government servant as pay as defined in Fundamental Rule 9(21)(a)(i);
(b) “completed years of service” means completed years of service, both officiating and substantive, in the particular post or cadre or class within the cadre concerned, and includes-
(i) the period of deputation during which the Government servant concerned would otherwise have officiated or continued to officiate therein; and
(ii) broken periods of such service;
(c) “corresponding scale” means the scale or all the scales of pay heretofore attached to a post or cadre or the class within the cadre which are being replaced by the prescribed scale;
(d) “existing scale” means the scale of pay including a unified scale, applicable to a Government servant in respect of his substantive or officiating post as the case may be, on the date from which his pay has been re-fixed in the prescribed scale;
(e) “Government service” means service under the Government of India and includes prior service under Provincial Governments in India, or under local funds administered by Government;
(f) “non-permanent post” means a post other than-
(i) a post made permanent prior to the 3rd September, 1939;
(ii) a post which carries the same time scale as a permanent post of the same class specified in the Schedule to the Revised Rates of Pay Rules, 1933;
(iii) a post or a class of posts as the Governor-General in Council may by special order declare not to be a non-permanent post;
(g) “post-1931 entrant” means a Government servant other than a pre-1931 entrant;
(h) “pre-1931 entrant” means a person who is in the employ of the Government of India on the 16th August 1947, and either was in Government service in a substantive or other capacity on the 15th July, 1931, and is not governed by the Revised Rates of Pay Rules, 1933, or entered Government service on or after the 16th July 1931 but was exempted from the operation of the Revised Rates of Pay Rules, 1933 by special orders;
(i) “prescribed scale” means a scale of pay prescribed in the Schedule;
(j) “present pay” means the basic pay of a Government servant in the existing scale at the time of fixation of his pay in the prescribed scale;
(k) “schedule” means the schedule annexed to these rules;
(l) “unified scale” means a scale of pay made applicable to a clerical post in pursuance of the Government of India, Finance Department Office Memorandum No. F. 41(12)-Ex/44, dated the 19th August 1944. - The rates of pay shown in the Schedule shall apply to-
(a) pre-1931 entrants who may elect these rates of pay; and
(b) all post-1931 entrants, provided that a post-1931 entrant other than the holder of a non-permanent post, may, if the maximum of his existing scale exceeds the maximum of the prescribed scale, elect to continue in his existing scale until he vacates the post or ceases to draw pay in that scale. - A pre-1931 entrant appointed to an isolated post, or to a class of posts, which was not in existence prior to the 16th July 1931, or to a class of posts which was abolished and resuscitated after that date, shall draw pay prescribed in the Schedule.
- A pre-1931 entrant, who does not elect under Rule 3(a) the scale of pay prescribed in the Schedule, shall, on transfer from one service, post, or post cadre within the time-scale, to another service, post, or post outside the time-scale, be entitled to the rates of pay applicable to him as a pre-1931 entrant when holding posts which carry both rates of pay applicable to pre-1931 entrants and the rates of pay prescribed under these rules.
- A pre-1931 entrant who elects the scales of pay prescribed in the Schedule as well as a post-1931 entrant other than a Government servant who retains his existing scale in exercise of the option contained in the proviso to rule 3(b) shall, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Governor-General in Council, have the further option of becoming subject to these rules either from the 1st January 1947 (or in the case of those who have entered service after that date from the date of such entry) or the 16th August 1947, as the Government servant may elect.
- (1) The option under rule 3(a) or rule 6 shall be exercised in writing within six months of the date of issue of these rules, provided that in the case of a Government servant, who is on that date on leave or deputation or on foreign service out of India, or on active service overseas, the said option shall be exercised in writing within six months of the date of his taking over charge of his post in India.
(2) The option shall be intimated by the Government servant to-
(a) if he is a gazetted Government servant, the Accounts Officer;
(b) if he is a non-gazetted Government servant, the Head of his Office.
(3) A Government servant who exercises option under rule 3(b) to continue in his existing scale, shall do so, subject to the proviso in sub-rule (1), within six months of the date of issue of these rules and in the manner indicated in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-rule (2), as the case may be.
(4) The option once exercised is final. - (1) Unless in any case the Governor-General in Council by special order otherwise directs, and except as provided in rule 9, the initial pay of a post-1931 entrant other than a person holding a post on a unified scale, shall be re-fixed in the prescribed scale with effect from the date from which he elects the scales of pay prescribed in the schedule, separately in respect of his substantive pay in the permanent post on which he holds a lien or would have held a lien if it had not been suspended, or his pay in the officiating post held by him, at the lowest pay admissible under the following three clauses:-
(a) the pay in the prescribed scale at the stage next above the present pay, increased by an increment for every three completed years of service in the corresponding scale;
(b) the pay that would be admissible if the following amounts are added to the present pay and the next higher stage in the prescribed scale is taken :-
| Present pay | Amount to be added |
| :— | :— |
| Not exceeding Rs. 100 | 15 |
| Exceeding Rs. 100 but not exceeding Rs. 250 | 20 |
| Exceeding Rs. 250 but not exceeding Rs. 400 | 30 |
| Exceeding Rs. 400 but not exceeding Rs. 500 | 40 |
| Exceeding Rs. 500 | 50 |
(c) the pay that would have been admissible had the completed years of service in the corresponding scale been rendered in the prescribed scale, or if he is not a holder of a non-permanent post, the pay in the prescribed scale at the stage next above the present pay, whichever is higher.
(2) In the case of a pre-1931 entrant other than a person holding a post on a unified scale, the initial pay in the prescribed scale shall be so fixed under sub-rule (1) as not to exceed the pay which would be admissible in that scale under that sub-rule to a post-1931 entrant on the Revised Rates of Pay 1933, with the same number of completed years of service.
(3) The pay of a Government servant holding a post on a unified scale shall be fixed in the prescribed scale under sub-rule (1) or sub-rule (2), as the case may be, provided-
(a) that for the purposes of that sub-rule his “present pay” shall be taken to mean, the pay he would have drawn in the scale applicable to the post but for the introduction of the unified scale; and
(b) that if the pay so fixed is less than the amount actually drawn in the unified scale, the difference shall be treated as personal pay. - The pay of an officer of Central Service, Class I, subject to these rules, shall be fixed in the following manner:-
(1) where the existing scale is a single scale and is to be replaced by junior and senior scales, pay shall be first fixed in junior scale in accordance with rule 8 and if he is holding a post on senior scale, whether in a substantive or officiating capacity, pay in that scale shall be fixed at the stage corresponding to the stage at which his pay is fixed in junior scale in the subjoined table:-
| Year of service | Pay in junior scale | Corresponding pay in senior scale |
| :— | :— | :— |
| 1st | 350 | 600 |
| 2nd | 350 | 600 |
| 3rd | 380 | 600 |
| 4th | 380 | 600 |
| 5th | 410 | 600 |
| 6th | 440 | 600 |
| 7th | 470 | 640 |
| 8th | 500 | 680 |
| 9th | 530 | 720 |
| 10th | 560 | 760 |
| 11th | 590 | 800 |
| 12th | 620 | 840 |
| 13th | 650 | 880 |
| 14th | 680 | 920 |
| 15th | 710 | 960 |
| 16th | 740 | 1000 |
| 17th | 770 | 1000 |
| 18th | 810 | 1050 |
| 19th | 850 | 1050 |
| 20th | … | 1100 |
| 21st | … | 1100 |
| 22nd | … | 1150 |
(2) where the service already carries scales corresponding to junior and senior scales or where special rates of pay are attached to posts for which the senior scale of Class I has been prescribed in the Schedule, the initial pay of a Government servant shall be fixed in accordance with rule 8 in the senior scale or the junior scale, as the case may be.
- The next increment of a Government servant whose pay has been re-fixed in accordance with rule 8 or rule 9, shall be granted in the prescribed scale on the date he would have drawn his increment had he continued in the existing scale or on the date on which an increment is earned in the prescribed scale, whichever date is earlier.
- Notwithstanding the provisions of these rules, the pay of a Government servant below the age of 21 years holding a post in the scale of Rs. 30-35 shall be Rs. 30 reduced by Re. 1 for each year by which his age falls below 21 years and shall be increased annually by one rupee from his next birthday onwards until he attains the age of 21 years when he will draw the minimum of the time-scale.
- A Government servant in receipt of overseas pay shall continue to draw it in addition to his pay in the prescribed scale at the rate or rates admissible to him from time to time under the pay rules that were applicable to him prior to the 16th August 1947.
- (1) These rules shall not apply to:-
(a) employees of the Railway Department;
(b) personnel paid from Defence Services Estimates;
(c) Government servants engaged on contract;
(d) Government servants not in whole time employment; and
(e) Government servants paid out of contingencies.
(2) Except as provided in sub-rule (1), these rules shall apply to all persons serving in civil Departments of the Government of India who are under the rule-making control of the Governor-General in Council.
Home Department (India)
New Delhi, January 20, 1947
During the past two or three weeks the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for India has been engaged in discussions in New Delhi with the Home, Defence and Finance Members of the Government of India, on the question of compensation for civil officers appointed by the Secretary of State and officers of the Indian Armed Forces, whose services may be prematurely terminated for constitutional reasons. These discussions are now concluded, and Mr. Henderson is returning to London to report to His Majesty’s Government.
No. 28/1/47-G.S.
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Works of Defence Act, 1903 (VII of 1903), the Central Government is pleased to declare that the lands described in the Schedule below are needed for a public purpose, viz., for the construction of a Rifle Range at Garchuk in the village of Garchuk, Mouza Garchuk, P.S. Amingaon, District Kamrup, Assam.
(Schedule not included in this extract)
No. F. 92-3/47-E.I.
In continuation of this Department’s Resolution No. F. 92-22/46-E.I., dated the 18th January 1947, the Governor-General in Council is pleased to decide to extend, until the 31st August 1947, the terms of office of all the members of the Commission whose term of office had expired on the 1st April 1947 in accordance with the orders contained in the said Resolution.
Department of Transport (India)
No. E-7, 573-XXX
With reference to this Department’s Notification No. E-7, 573, dated the 29th January 1947, the following further amendment shall be made in the General Rules for all open lines of Railways in India administered by the Government, published with the notification of the Government of India in the late Department of Commerce and Industry, No. 801, dated the 24th March 1905, namely: –
In the Schedule appended to Part III of the said Rules, after Serial No. 63-A, in column 3, the following words shall be included, namely:-
“or sound sealed tins or drums”.
No. F. 45-Ex. I/47
In exercise of the powers conferred by rule 6 of the Indian Railway (Local Authorities’ Taxation) Rules, 1942, the Central Government is pleased to declare that the tolls leviable by the Naihati Municipality under the Bengal Local Self-Government Act, 1885, shall be leviable in respect of the railways of the Eastern Bengal Railway Administration in the said Municipality as from the date of this notification.
Railway Department (India) (Railway Board)
New Delhi, the 30th July 1947
RESOLUTION
No. F. 92-3/47-E.I.
In view of the impending constitutional and political changes in the country, the Government of India have decided to postpone the question of appointment of members to the Commission until the future of the Commission has been finally decided. Lest the work of the Commission should be hampered in any way during this interim period, the Government of India have decided that the Secretary of the Commission should be authorized to carry on current work. The Governor-General in Council is pleased to authorize the Secretary to the Commission to sign on behalf of the Commission all routine papers and other communications which do not involve any question of policy or principle.
No. F. (X)II-47/TX-1612
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Railways (Local Authorities’ Taxation) Act, 1941 (XXIII of 1941), the Central Government is pleased to declare that the Administration of the Bengal Assam Railway and the East Indian Railway shall be liable to pay, in aid of the funds of the local authority specified in Column I of the Schedule annexed hereto, the tax specified in Column II thereof.
| Local Authority | Tax |
|---|---|
| Naiheti Municipality | Lighting Tax. |
No. 728-TG
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 47 of the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (IX of 1890), and by the notification of the Government of India in the late Department of Commerce and Industry, No. 801, dated the 24th March 1905, the Railway Board directs that the following further amendment shall be made in the General Rules for all open lines of Railways in British India administered by the Government, published with the notification of the Government of India in the Railway Department (Railway Board), No. 1075-T, dated the 9th March 1939, namely:-
In the Schedule appended to Part III of the said Rules, after Serial No. 63-A, in column 3, the following words shall be included, namely:-
“or sound sealed tins or drums”.
Department of Industries and Supplies
Bombay, the 15th July 1947
No. 84-TA/47
In exercise of the powers conferred on me by clause 21 of the Cotton Cloth and Yarn (Control) Order, 1945, and with the sanction of the Central Government, I hereby direct that the following further amendment shall be made in the Textile Commissioner’s Notification No. T.C.(40)/46, dated the 19th January 1946, namely:-
In the said notification for entry No. 3, the following entry shall be substituted, namely:-
“3. Mr. A. G. D. Madgavkar – Director (Yarn).”
No. 84-TA/47(i)
…directs that in Notification No. S-IX/CCI(V), dated the 19th December 1946, for entry No. 1, substitute: “1. Mr. A. G. D. Madgavkar – Director (Yarn).”
No. 84-TA/47(ii)
…directs that in Notification No. T.C.(14)/44, dated the 30th December 1944, for entry No. 17, substitute: “17. Mr. A. G. D. Madgavkar – Director (Yarn) (Whole of British India).”
No. 84-TA/47(iii)
…directs that in Notification No. T.C.(Sr.)/46, dated the 9th April 1946, for entry No. 2, substitute: “2. Mr. A. G. D. Madgavkar – Director (Yarn).”
No. 84-TA/47(iv)
…directs that in Notification No. 84-TA/46, dated the 23rd December 1946, for entry No. 1, substitute: “1. Mr. A. G. D. Madgavkar – Director (Yarn).”
No. 84-TA/47(v)
…directs that in Notification No. T.C.(S)/46, dated the 15th May 1946-
(i) for entry No. 1, substitute: “1. Mr. A. G. D. Madgavkar – Director (Yarn).”
(ii) entry No. 5 shall be deleted and entries 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 shall be renumbered as 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 respectively.
No. 84-TA/47(vi)
…directs that in Notification No. T.C.(13)/44, dated the 16th December 1944-
(i) for entry No. 2, substitute: “2. Mr. A. G. D. Madgavkar – Director (Yarn).”
(ii) entry No. 9 shall be deleted and entries 10 and 11 shall be renumbered 9 and 10 respectively.
No. 84-TA/47(vii)
…directs that in Notification No. T.C.(15)/44, dated 30th December 1944, for entry No. 3, substitute:-
‘3. (i) The Provincial Textile and Yarn Commissioner, C. P. & Berar. ) C. P. & Berar.
(ii) The Assistant Textile and Yarn Commissioner, C. P. & Berar. )’
No. 85/1-TA/47
In exercise of the powers conferred on me by sub-clause (3) of clause 18B of the Cotton Cloth and Yarn (Control) Order, 1943, I hereby direct that the following amendment shall be made in the Textile Commissioner’s Notification No. 85/1-TA/47, dated the 11th April 1947, namely:-
In the said notification the existing explanation shall be numbered as (i) and after the explanation so numbered the following further explanation shall be added, namely:-
“(ii) ‘Sorting’ in this order applies to fents not exceeding 3 yards in length (including rags, that is, fents below one yard in length) and fents of dhoties and saries.”
Bombay, the 1st July 1947
No. 130-TA/47
In exercise of the powers conferred on me by clause 10 of the Cotton Cloth and Yarn (Control) Order, 1945, I hereby direct that notwithstanding anything contained in the notifications of the Textile Commissioner No. 34-Tes.A(13)/2/43, dated 31st December 1943, No. T.C.(17)/45, dated 1st February 1945, No. T.C.(17)Pb. 16, dated the 5th April 1946 and No. T.C.(17)/45, dated the 30th January 1945: a dealer in the Province of the Punjab may recover in addition to the price of the cloth or yarn sold by him a sum not exceeding the amount of the charges for insuring riot risk and fire caused by civil commotion paid by him in respect of such cloth or yarn, or recovered from him by the dealer who sold it to him with the consent and approval of the Provincial Government:
Provided that such addition shall be shown separately in the seller’s invoice or cash memorandum and the total amount of the invoice or memorandum shall be rounded off to the nearest anna.
Home Department (India)
New Delhi, the 25th July 1947
No. 50/11/47-I-Poll(EW)
The Governor-General-in-Council has by order dated the 25th July 1947, revoked the certificate of naturalisation granted to JOHN ANASTASIS SOTHIANOS on the 16th October, 1931, under the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, and has also directed that MRS. ANNA SOTHIANOS nee CHRISSOLOURA, the wife, and IVE SOTHIANOS, the minor child, of the said JOHN ANASTASIS SOTHIANOS, shall cease to be British subjects.
No. 65/15/47-Public(B)
In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (XXVI of 1881), the Central Government is pleased to declare Friday, the 15th and Saturday the 16th August 1947 to be public holidays throughout the Dominion of India in celebration of the inauguration of the new Dominion of India.
New Delhi, the 30th July 1947
No. 27/10/46-Ests.
The following amendments made by the Secretary of State in the Premature Retirement Rules, 1937, are published for general information:-
“I, William Francis, Earl of Listowel, one of His Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State, in virtue of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 247 and sub-section (2) of Section 257 of the Government of India Act, 1935, hereby make, with the concurrence of my Advisers, the following amendments in the Premature Retirement Rules, namely:-
A. For Rule 2 of the said rules the following shall be substituted, namely:-
“2. The following officers may be permitted by the Secretary of State to retire under these rules.
(a) any officer appointed by the Secretary of State or Secretary of State in Council to a Superior Civil Service, as specified in the First Schedule, or a civil post under Government in India and whose pay is charged on the revenues of India;
(b) any officer holding a permanent Commission in His Majesty’s Land Forces and any officer of the Royal Indian Navy, other than an officer of the Royal Indian Naval Reserve, the Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve or a Commissioned Warrant Officer who holds a post on the cadre of a Superior Civil Service or a post reserved for officers of His Majesty’s Forces;
(c) any officer belonging to the Indian Political Service:
Provided that
(i) no officer shall be eligible to retire under these rules who is certified to be physically unfit for further service in India;
(ii) with effect from such date and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may prescribe, officers to whom these rules apply shall be deemed to have been permitted to retire under these rules and shall be entitled to the benefits provided thereunder;
(iii) officers released by the Governor-General (or Crown Representative) with entitlement to compensation or resettlement grant shall be deemed to have been permitted to retire under these rules and shall be entitled to the benefits provided thereunder.”
B. For Rule 9 of the said rules the following shall be substituted, namely:-
“9. The right of any officer to receive or retain a pension under the provisions of these rules is subject to the right of the Secretary of State to reduce or withhold any pension if the past service of the applicant is not approved or if the pensioner after retirement is convicted of a serious crime or is guilty of grave misconduct.”
C. For the First Schedule the following shall be substituted, namely:-
FIRST SCHEDULE
(See Rule 2)
Officers to whom these Rules apply
Superior Civil Services referred to in Rule 2.
(a) The Indian Civil Service.
(b) The Indian Police.
(c) The Indian Forest Service.
(d) The Indian Forest Engineering Service.
(e) The Indian Educational Service.
(f) The Indian Agricultural Service.
(g) The Indian Service of Engineers.
(h) The Indian Veterinary Service.
(i) The Indian Medical Service (Civil).
(j) The Central Services Class I as listed in the Classification, Control and Appeal Rules.
(k) The Railway Services Class I.
Explanatory Note.
(This note is not part of the Rule but is intended to indicate its general purport).
As a result of the constitutional changes in India it is necessary to bring within the scope of the Premature Retirement Rules those members of the Secretary of State’s Services who have now to serve under a Ministerial Government. The opportunity has been taken to bring the rules up to date.
H. C. DAS, Dy. Secy.”
Department of Commerce (India)
New Delhi, the 21st August 1947
No. 605-I(4)/46
In pursuance of sub-section (2) of section 9 of the Insurance Act, 1938 (IV of 1938), the Central Government is pleased to notify the Indian State of Mysore for the purposes of the said sub-section.
Simla, the 2nd August 1947
No. 604-IP(1)/47
It is hereby notified for general information that the registration of each of the following provident societies has been cancelled by the Superintendent of Insurance under clause (ii) of the second proviso to sub-section (4) of section 70 of the Insurance Act, 1938, for failure to have its registration renewed, and that the cancellation took effect on the date noted against each.
| Name of Society | Date of cancellation |
|---|---|
| Odean Buildings C…… Haught Plan, New Delhi | 15th January 1947 |
Home Department (India)
No. 108-H.
His Imperial Majesty the King, Emperor of India, has been graciously pleased to award the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal to the following officer:-
Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh, Superintendent of Police, Datia State, Central India.
His Excellency the Viceroy has been pleased to award the Indian Police Medal to the following officer:-
Ram Singh, Circle Inspector of Police, Datia State, Central India.
Statement of services for which these decorations have been awarded is as follows. — On the 26th September 1946, information was received by the dewan of Datia State that two deserters from the State Police, Constables Sita Ram and Kishori Lal were hiding in a small hill-top fort in Datia State near Unchu Math. The fort had loopholed walls, fortified roof and a single door. These constables were believed to be in possession of two .303 rifles and plenty of ammunition.
On the morning of 28th September Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh, Superintendent of Police, Datia State, accompanied by a party of Jhansi Police and a contingent of State infantry went to the Math to arrest the two men. On arrival they were met with heavy fire which was returned by one of the men of the Jhansi District Police Force. The mother of Kishori Lal, one of the deserters, who was brought by Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh’s party was sent to the Math to reason with her son. She returned with the message that the deserters wanted to speak to an officer of the Datia State Police who should go forward unarmed for negotiation with them.
Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh thereupon went unarmed to the base of the Math. Inspector Harnam Singh of the Datia State Police and a Deputy Superintendent of the Jhansi Police also proceeded with the Sardar Bahadur with their arms hidden. These officers parleyed with the two desperate armed men, and tried to induce them to surrender. After some time, Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh entered the Math alone for a freer discussion. He was, however, not entirely cut off from the rest of his party, and kept in touch with them. Negotiations failed and fire was opened on both sides. The encounter, in which hand grenades and a sten gun were used, lasted for several hours, and during most of this time Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh and Inspector Harnam Singh of the Datia State Police and also a Head Constable Bhoop Singh of the Jhansi Police faced great danger with the utmost courage and coolness. In the end Sita Ram shot himself through the heart. Kishori Lal was captured. Two rifles and 175 rounds of ammunition were recovered.
In handling this dangerous enterprise without any loss Sardar Bahadur Kishan Singh and Inspector Harnam Singh rendered most valuable service and displayed high courage.
(A note states that the services of Mr. Murli Dhar and Mr. Umrao Singh of the Jhansi Police have already been recognized by the award of the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal in February this year.)
No. 109-H.
His Excellency the Viceroy has been pleased to award the Indian Police Medal to the following officers:-
BIHAR
Name of officer and rank. — Ramanand Pande, Sub-Inspector of Police, Patna.
Statement of services for which the decoration has been awarded. — Sub-Inspector Ramanand Pande was on deputation at Naubatpur in the jurisdiction of Patna Police Station in the Patna District on the 1st November 1946 during the communal disturbances. He learned that the neighbouring village of Ranchanpur had been attacked by a mob numbering about four thousand which had already set fire to several houses and murdered some Muslims. The mob also surrounded some Hindus at that place and inflicted serious injuries on them. But the Sub-Inspector kept his head and ordered the constables to fire. After a few rounds the mob dispersed and the Sub-Inspector successfully evacuated the injured persons from the village. Sub-Inspector Ramanand Pande, a junior officer with just over three years’ service, displayed exemplary courage and determination in circumstances of great danger.
This award is made for gallantry under regulation (d)(i) of the Regulations governing the grant of the Indian Police Medal and consequently carries with it the special allowance admissible to officers of and below the rank of Inspector of Police.
Name of officer and rank. — Jagdish Prasad Sinha, Sub-Inspector of Police, Patna.
Statement of services for which the decoration has been awarded. — Sub-Inspector Jagdish Prasad Sinha, who was in the second year of his probation, was deputed on the 26th October 1946 with one section of Armed Reserve Police to Saksolra and Belchhi to evacuate refugees to the concentration point at Belchhi. On the 31st October, while evacuating 150 refugees on a country boat, he was challenged by a large and determined mob of villagers of Chaukham, and he at once opened fire and dispersed them. Later, near Belchhi while the police party and refugees were negotiating a muddy stream, the same mob, whose numbers had in the meantime increased, overtook the party and made a determined attempt to seize and murder the refugees. The Sub-Inspector again faced the mob and dispersed them, opening fire with revolver and musket. In evacuating the refugees the Sub-Inspector displayed courage, leadership and determination of a high order.
This award is made for gallantry under regulation (d)(i) of the Regulations governing the grant of the Indian Police Medal and consequently carries with it the special allowance admissible to officers of and below the rank of Inspector of Police.
No. 110-H.
His Majesty the King, Emperor of India, has been graciously pleased to award the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal to the following officer:-
BENGAL
Name of officer and rank. — Maulvi Abdul Barek, Sub-Inspector of Police, Sadar District Police.
Statement of services for which the decoration has been awarded. — On receipt of information that one Rishipada Bhattacharji, the notorious leader of a desperate gang of dacoits known as the “Bombard Militia party”, was hiding with some of his associates in a vacant house at Kumarpara in Santipur P.S., Sub-Inspector Abdul Barek at once went there with all his force and put a round the house. On receiving no reply when he knocked at the door, the Sub-Inspector broke into the inner compound. Immediately one member of the gang who was in hiding fired at him and injured him. The injured leader, Rishipada Bhattacharji, climbed on to the roof of the house and warned the police that the gang would continue to fire on them. The Sub-Inspector therefore withdrew to the outer compound and an exchange of shots lasted for about two hours. The Sub-Inspector, in spite of profuse bleeding from his wound, held his men together and when the gang ultimately offered to surrender, he led the party into the courtyard whereupon two of the gang attempted to fire on the Sub-Inspector who however fired first and wounded two of them. He then charged the gang with his men, arrested six of them, and recovered from them a Sten gun, a pistol and several rounds of ammunition. The Sub-Inspector displayed conspicuous gallantry in dealing with a desperate gang of armed criminals in spite of personal injury. His gallant leadership was an inspiration to the men under his command and as a result of his devotion to duty a number of notorious criminals who were wanted for cases of assault, loot, arson, dacoity and murder were arrested.
This award is made for gallantry under regulation (6)(a) of the Regulations governing the grant of the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal and consequently carries with it the special allowance admissible to officers of and below the rank of Inspector of Police.
No. 111-H.
His Imperial Majesty the King, Emperor of India, has been graciously pleased to award the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal to the following officer:-
UNITED PROVINCES
Name of officer and rank. — Ham Singh Pande, Sub-Inspector of Police, Dhatura.
Statement of services for which the decoration has been awarded. — In October 1946, Sub-Inspector Ham Singh Pande was in charge of the Bakhtiarpur Police Station in the Patna district. On the 1st November 1946, while on patrol, he was informed that Dil Mahmad, a neighbouring village, had been attacked by a mob numbering about four thousand which had set some houses on fire. With one small section of Railway Protection Police he hastened to the village, faced the mob, opened fire with his shot gun, and succeeded in dispersing it. Thereafter he found 50 women and children who had taken refuge on the roof of a house which had already been set alight. At considerable risk to himself he climbed on to the roof and saved all the refugees with the help of his armed constables. Again on the 4th November, while he was camping with a small force at Bahadurganj, he learned that a large mob was advancing to attack the Muslims of village Mahatwari. He intercepted the mob, opened fire and dispersed it after arresting two persons armed with lathis and spears. Sub-Inspector Ham Singh Pande displayed courage, leadership and determination of a high order in the face of great danger.
This award is made for gallantry under regulation (6)(a) of the Regulations governing the grant of the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal and consequently carries with it the special allowance admissible to officers of and below the rank of Inspector of Police.
Legislative Department (India)
No. F. 5-1/47-A.
In accordance with the provisions of rule (9) of rule 14 of the Legislative Assembly Electoral Rules, the name of the following candidate, who has been declared to be elected as a member of the said Assembly by the constituency mentioned opposite his name, is hereby published:-
Mr. A. K. A. C. Shillong (Shillong Parliamentary Constituency).
No. P. 3/47-L.T.A.T.
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 5A of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (XI of 1922), the Central Government is pleased to appoint Rai Bahadur B. K. Mukerji to be an Accountant Member of the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal vice Mr. A. L. Sahni, whose services have been placed at the disposal of the Department of Works, Mines and Power with effect from the forenoon of the 20th July 1947, or until further orders.
Press Information Bureau, Government of India
(Unofficial Notes)
RE-EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRED OFFICERS
The Central Government, it is understood, are considering the re-employment of retired officers in certain Superior Secretariat and non-Secretariat posts. The type of officers the Central Government have in view are those who before retirement had put in at least one year’s service as Collector, District Magistrate or in some judicial or non-judicial I.C.S. post or in a Class I Central Service post carrying a pay of not less than Rs. 1,000 per month. Such officers, desirous of being considered for re-employment, will, it is learnt, have to apply to the Home Department, Government of India, New Delhi on or before May 15, 1947.
They will be required, it is understood, to furnish such particulars as the date of retirement, post held at the time of retirement, the pay drawn and full details of service rendered under Government and details of employment, if any, after retirement etc.
PRESS LAWS ENQUIRY COMMITTEE
The appointment of a Committee to review Press Laws in British India, is announced by the Government of India in a Resolution in the Gazette of India today (Saturday, March 15, 1947).
The Committee will consist of Rai Bahadur Ganga Nath, a Judge of the Allahabad High Court and Ex-Chief Justice of Kashmir State, (Chairman), the Hon’ble Nawabzada Khurshid Ali Khan, Member Council of State, the Hon’ble Rai Bahadur Sri Narain Mahtab, Member Council of State, Mr. Sri Prakasa, Member Legislative Assembly, Diwan Chaman Lall, Member Legislative Assembly, Mr. Siddiq Ali Khan, Member Legislative Assembly, Mr. Kasturi Srinivasan, Editor of the ‘Hindu’, Madras, Mr. S. A. Brelvi, Editor of the ‘Bombay Chronicle’, Bombay and Mr. Tushar Kanti Ghosh, Editor of the ‘Amrita Bazar Patrika’, Calcutta and Allahabad (Members). Mr. G. V. Bedekar, I.C.S., Deputy Secretary, Home Department, Government of India, will act as Secretary to the Committee in addition to his other duties.
The terms of reference to the Committee are as follows:-
(i) To examine and report to Government on the laws regulating the Press in the principal countries of the world including India; and
(ii) to recommend to Government any measures of reform in the laws in British India considered expedient upon such review.
It is expected that the Committee will start its work at an early date, with New Delhi as its headquarters. It will visit such places in India as it may consider necessary and will take evidence on questions arising from the terms of reference. The Committee is authorised to call for information in writing and to take evidence from any Department or officers of Government on matters which fall within its terms of reference. Persons who desire to be called as witnesses should apply in writing to the Secretary of the Committee care of the Home Department, Government of India, New Delhi, giving their full names and addresses together with a brief memorandum of the points in regard to which they desire to give evidence.
The Government of India hope that the Provincial Governments will afford the Committee all the assistance which it may require and will supply it with any information for which it may ask.
The Committee has been appointed to meet a demand both from the Press and in the Legislature for a review of the Laws relating to the Press with a view to bringing them into line with the Press Laws of other progressive countries and to fulfil an undertaking which the Hon’ble the Home Member gave at a meeting of the All India Newspaper Editors’ Conference held on October 13, 1946, when he said that the Government would have no objection to setting up a Committee of officials and non-officials including representatives of the Press with a view to examining the repeal or modification of the existing Press Laws in India.
HOME MEMBER’S APPEAL TO THE PRESS
The Hon’ble Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Member for Home, Information and Broadcasting, has issued the following statement:-
“The forthright call for self-discipline and a halt to senseless bloodshed and violence, issued by Gandhiji and Mr. Jinnah, has been universally welcomed and acclaimed in India.
“But the appeal should not be allowed to remain a mere pious expression of hope and sentiments and it is incumbent on all of us, in our respective sphere of duty and service, to follow it up by instant and effective action.
“The Press can make a worthy contribution not only by featuring the appeal prominently at intervals or whenever tension and communal feelings threaten to get the better of human reason or judgment, but also by bearing it in mind in the treatment and presentation of communal matters. A moment’s reflection on the message and significance of the appeal may prevent a hasty word or deed from doing incalculable harm to life and property.
“I would, therefore, appeal to every newspaper and periodical to respond to the appeal in the spirit in which it was made, to give it all possible prominent publicity and to make it an article of faith and a guide to action.”
SPIRIT OF SERVICE EMPHASISED
“You are the pioneers in the Indian Service, and the future of this Service will depend much upon the foundation and traditions that will be laid down by you, by your character and abilities and by your spirit of service,” said the Hon’ble Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Home Member, Government of India, addressing the probationers at the Indian Administrative Service Training School at Metcalfe House, Delhi this morning (April 20).
Sardar Patel, who inaugurated the first session of the School, was received on his arrival by the Principal, Mr. N. J. Desai, who showed him round. Sardar Patel chatted with the probationers for some time, saw the class rooms, the dormitories, the mess and other arrangements for instruction and recreation of the probationers.
Situated on the bank of the Jamuna, the School has at present fifty-four probationers for the All-India Administrative Service and five for the Indian Foreign Service. The course for training includes languages, Criminal and Civil Laws, Evidence, Procedure, History, Economics, Office Organisation, Public Administration and Motor Mechanics. The Indian Foreign Service Probationers have also to do some special subjects including International Law.
EPOCH-MAKING CHANGE
Sardar Patel said, “As all of you are aware, the days of the Indian Civil Service of the old style are drawing to be over and in its place we have brought into being the All India Administrative Service. The change is significant and epoch-making. In the first place, it is an unmistakable symptom of the transfer of power which is taking place from foreign to Indian hands. Secondly, it denotes the manning of the All India Service officers entirely by Indians and subject completely to Indian control. Thirdly, the Service will now be free to or will have to adopt its true role of national service without being trammelled by traditions and habits of the past.
SPIRIT OF SERVICE
“I have dilated on the significance of this change mainly in order to bring home to the minds of the probationers particularly, and to the outside world incidentally, that the days when the Service could be masters are over and the officers must be guided by a real spirit of service in their day to day administration, for in no other manner can they justify their existence. Perhaps you are aware of a saying which is current in India regarding the past Civil Service, which is known as the Indian Civil Service, that it is neither Indian, nor Civil, nor imbued with any spirit of service. In a true sense, it is not Indian because the Indian Civil Servants are mostly Englishmen, their training was in foreign lands, and they had to serve foreign masters. Therefore, in effect, the Indian Service was known not to be Indian, nor to be civil nor imbued with any spirit of service, and yet it was known as Indian Civil Service. The thing is now going to change.
“To some extent, all of you, who are undergoing instruction in this School, are more fortunate than your predecessors. Your predecessors had to serve as agents of an alien rule and, even against their better judgment, had sometimes to execute the biddings of their foreign employers. You will now have the satisfaction that whatever you do, you will be doing under the orders of your own fellow Indians. Your predecessors were brought up in the traditions in which they felt out of touch and kept themselves aloof from the common run of the people. It will be your bounden duty to treat the common man in India as your own or to put it correctly, to feel yourself to be one of them and amongst them, and you will have to learn not to despise or to disregard them. In other words, you will have to get yourself attuned to democratic ways as opposed to purely autocratic ways of administration.
“It is needless for me to stress the need of discipline in your ranks in the higher capacity you may be serving India. Without discipline, you must cultivate a spirit of esprit de corps, without which a service as such has little meaning. You should regard it as a proud privilege to belong to the Service, covenants of which you will sign, and to uphold throughout your service its dignity, integrity and incorruptibility. You would do well to examine the conditions that prevail in India today. The real task in India has just begun. For the time being there is a transition to the highest stature of responsibility. The difficulties of a transitional period have, therefore, been superimposed over those of the post-war problems.
“In these circumstances, we must expect โ and we have a right to expect โ the best out of every Civil Servant in India, in whatever position of responsibility he may be. It is not for you to approach your task purely from a mercenary angle or entirely from self-interest, however enlightened it may be. Your foremost consideration should be how best to contribute to the well-being of India as a whole. You can trust Government to keep you contented and happy so that you may give of your best, but it would be unworthy of you if you make that a condition of service. After all, your Ministers fully appreciate and realise the importance of your work. They may sometimes appear to you as lacking in sympathy but I do not think there is any one in the highest responsible positions in India who does not feel that he wants to take the service with him if he is to make the maximum possible contribution to the well-being of India.
IMPARTIALITY AND INTEGRITY
“Above all I should advise you to maintain to the utmost the impartiality and incorruptibility of administration. A Civil Servant cannot afford to, and must not, take part in politics. Nor must he involve himself in communal wrangles. To depart from the path of rectitude in either of these respects is to debase public service and to lower its dignity. Similarly, no service worth the name can claim to exist if it does not have in view the achievement of the highest standard of integrity. Unfortunately India today cannot boast of an incorruptible service, but I hope that you who are now starting, as it were, a new generation of Civil Servants, will not be misled by black sheep in the fold but will render your service without fear or favour and without any expectation of extraneous rewards.
PIONEERS IN INDIAN SERVICE
“I have said what I feel I should have said in regard to the general aspects of your responsibilities. During the short time that you will be in this School, you are expected to learn a great deal. In your Principal you have one who combines in himself the knowledge of practical administration and a breadth of outlook. I have no doubt that under him you would be able to make the most of whatever time is left to you in this institution. I am personally glad that it was given to me by Providence to approve of the institution of the first real All India Administrative Service. I regard it as both a proud privilege and a sacred obligation, and I can assure you that it shall be my utmost endeavour to secure for you a happy and contented career under the best conditions consistent with the circumstances of this country.
“You are the pioneers in the Indian Service, and the future of this Service will depend much upon the foundation and traditions that will be laid down by you, by your character and abilities and by your spirit of service. You can look forward to your future with trust and confidence, and if you serve in the true spirit of service, I am sure you will have your best reward. I shall ask you, therefore, to devote yourselves to your studies fully conscious of the responsibilities and opportunities that await you and seek from whatever source you can instruction with an humble mind. I wish all of you God-speed.”
Finance Department (Revenue Division)
New Delhi, the 28th February 1947
No. 1-Customs/47
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 23 of the Sea Customs Act, 1878 (VIII of 1878), the Central Government is pleased to exempt, with effect from the 1st April 1947, salt specified in item No. 25(1) of the First Schedule to the Indian Tariff Act, 1934 (XXXII of 1934), and imported by sea into British India from the Customs duty leviable thereon under the last mentioned Act.
No. 1-Salt/47
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of rule 8 of the Central Excise Rules, 1944, the Central Government is pleased to exempt, with effect from the 1st April 1947, salt manufactured in or imported by land into British India from the whole of the duty leviable thereon under section 3 of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944 (I of 1944).
No. 2-Salt/47
By Notification Nos. 1-Customs/47 and 1-Salt/47 of the 28th February 1947 salt imported into or manufactured in British India is with effect from the 1st April 1947 exempted from payment of the duty leviable thereon. A refund of duty paid on stocks of salt held on the 1st April 1947 or in transit on that date will also be admissible subject to the conditions set out in the following rules :-
RULES GOVERNING THE REFUND OF DUTY ON SALT MANUFACTURED IN OR IMPORTED INTO BRITISH INDIA AND HELD IN STOCK ON THE 1ST APRIL, 1947 OR IN TRANSIT ON THAT DATE.
- Limitations.ย – Subject to the provisions hereinafter contained duty will be refunded on the opening balance of salt in stock on the 1st April 1947, and salt in transit on that date by rail or by water in vessels of, or exceeding, 20 tons burden. Refund will be granted only in respect of
(a) quantities of not less than 30 maunds;
(b) except for salt in transit, on salt packed in bags of uniform weight which are stacked in such a manner as to enable them to be readily counted.
Applications in respect of salt in transit must be accompanied by the relative transit passes in form 8-4 appended to this notification, signed by the proper officer of Central Excise or Customs.
- Prior notice of claim to be given.ย – A dealer who expects to possess salt on the 1st April 1947, on which refund of duty will be payable shall, within ten days of the date of this notification, give notice of his intention to apply for refund and shall submit in duplicate to the Central Excise Officer having jurisdiction, a true declaration of particulars relating to his business in salt as set out in form 8-1 appended to this notification.
- Applicant to maintain stock record.ย – Such dealer shall, at the same time open an Entry Book in form 8-2 appended to this notification or in such other form as the Collector of Central Excise having jurisdiction may by written order prescribe, in which he shall on the same day on which he receives or issues any salt, write and enter in the proper column the date of such receipt or issue, the weight and value of such salt and the full name and address of the person from whom he receives or to whom he issues salt during the period from the date of opening the book up to and including the 31st March 1947. If he sells salt by retail in quantities of less than 5 seers, the total quantity so sold during any one day may be shown in a single entry in the book.
- Form of Application.ย – Applications for refund shall be made in triplicate in form 8-3 appended to this notification and the applicant shall state therein the amount of refund claimed, the quantity of salt in stock or in transit by rail or water on the 1st April 1947, the description and kind of salt on which refund is claimed, the place at which the salt was charged with duty, or, if the salt was not purchased from such place, the name and address of the dealer from whom it was purchased, the date of receipt and the number and date of the transit pass, if any, the gross and net weight of the salt, the rate at which duty was paid and the treasury at which payment of the refund is desired. Applications should reach the Central Excise Officer by the 8th April 1947 and may be delivered personally or by post. They should be accompanied by transit passes, if any, and by the Entry Book prescribed in rule 3, duly cast up and brought to total and bearing a written declaration by the applicant that it contains a true, full and just account of all salt received and issued by him during the period for which it was kept. The Central Excise Officer shall grant a receipt for all applications received.
Peripatetic dealers shall produce their stocks of salt to the nearest Central Excise Officer on the 1st April 1947, together with the relative transit passes, if any.
- Grant of refund.ย – The Central Excise Officer shall check all stocks of salt in his jurisdiction and compare them with the relative Entry Book and transit passes, if any. On receipt of the applications and supporting documents referred to in rule 4 and after such further enquiry as may be necessary, he shall endorse the application and forward it to the Circle Officer who will order the payment of such refund as may be due on the quantity verified and will notify both the applicant and the Treasury Officer concerned. The applicant may then apply to the treasury for payment.
- A misdeclaration or false entry in the application or in any of the supporting documents referred to in rule 4 shall render the claim liable to rejection.
H. GREENFIELD,
Additional Secretary.
Home Department (Office of the Chief Commissioner, Delhi)
Delhi, the 1st March 1947
No. F. 18(38)/47-L. S. G.
Whereas in the opinion of the Government the public interest so permits, the Chief Commissioner, Delhi, is pleased, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (b) of sub-section (3) of section 4 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910, to make on his own initiative the following alterations and amendments in the terms and conditions of the Delhi Central Electric Licence 1939, published with his notification No. F. 36/39-L. S. G./Industries, dated 22nd March 1939:-
Amendments and alterations
Clause 4. Substitute the following for this clause:-
The area of supply within which the supply of energy is authorised by this licence is:
(a) For bulk supply, under clause 6.1, the whole of the Province of Delhi, which area is particularly delineated on the deposited map by a green boundary line.
(b) For supply to other consumers, that portion of the area specified in clause (a) above, which was included in the first annexure to the Delhi Municipality Electric Licence of 1905, as amended from time to time.
Clause 6. In line 1, for “station” substitute “stations”.
Clause 6.1. In line 2, after the word “licence” add “, in bulk,”. In the proviso, after “energy” in line 1, add “, in bulk,”.
Clause 6.11. For first 9 lines substitute the following:-
“11. By way of exception to Section 22 of the Act, it is hereby expressly declared that no consumer shall be entitled to a supply of energy by the licensees under Clause 6.1, unless”.
Clause 7. Substitute the following:-
“Clause 7 (1) The systems which may be adopted for the supply of energy in pursuance of this license are the following:
(a) Alternating Current 3 phase 50 cycles 400 volts between phases, and 230 volts between neutral and any one of the phases.
(b) Alternating Current 3 phase 50 cycles 6,600 volts between phases.
(c) Alternating Current 3 phase 50 cycles 33,000 volts between phases.
(d) Direct Current, 3 wire system 500 volts between positive and negative conductors and 250 volts between neutral and positive or negative conductor.
- The pressure stated above shall be as measured at the point of commencement of supply prescribed under section 19A of the Act and shall be uniform throughout the area of supply within the limits prescribed by the Indian Electricity Rules, 1937, and any subsequent modification thereof.
- The Licensees may from time to time, with the previous consent in writing of the Government, and subject to such limitations as shall be specified in writing by the Government alter the nature of the supply or adopt any other system or systems of supply for the purpose of this license.
- The feeders, distributing mains and service lines may be aerial or underground in whole or in part and shall be erected, constructed and maintained by the Licensees in strict conformity with the Act and Rules thereunder.”
Clause 8. Substitute the following for this clause:-
“I. The rates to be charged by the Licensees for energy supplied by them in bulk, under clause 6.1 shall not exceed annas two per unit metered.
II. In other cases-
(a) Where licensees charge any consumer by the actual quantity of energy supplied to him, they shall be entitled to charge him at a rate not exceeding annas ten per unit metered.
(b) Where the licensees charge any consumer by the electric quantity contained in the supply given to him they shall be entitled to charge him according to the rates set forth in clause (a) above, the quantity of energy supplied to him being taken to be the product of such electrical quantity and the standard pressure at the point of supply:
Provided that where the licensees’ system involves a transformation of the energy supplied on the consumers’ premises, the quantity of energy supplied to him may be taken to be the product of such electrical quantity and the standard pressures on the licensees’ mains, divided by the number expressing the ratio of the transformation employed.
III. In the case of a method of charge approved by the Government in accordance with Section 23, sub-sections (3) and (4) of the Act, the maximum rate shall be such as the Government may fix on approving the method.”
Clause 10 (b). For “station” substitute “stations” in line 4.
Clause 11. Insert a comma after “Act” in line 4 and add “in respect of consumers falling under clause 6.1 of this License and Clauses I, IV and XIII in respect of other consumers,”.
Clause 14. Substitute the following for the heading of this clause “Protection for Tramways in the area of supply.” Delete the following words from lines 3 and 4 of this clause “of the Delhi Electric Supply and Traction Company Limited”.
New Clauses after 14. The following clauses 15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D and 16 shall be added after clause 14 :-
Clause 15. The Licensees shall maintain an Electric Tramway with single or double track and with necessary sidings, turn out connections and tracks, on such portions of the routes mentioned in the Annexure to this License as may be agreed upon between the Delhi Municipal Committee and the licensees with the approval of the Government and subject to such conditions as the Government may prescribe in that behalf.
Clause 15A. All vehicles used only on the track to be maintained by the licensees shall, so long as they are held and used by the licensees for the purposes of the undertaking, be exempted from payment of wheel tax.
Clause 15B. The licensees shall pay to the Delhi Municipal Committee in respect of Tramways maintained under this license a yearly rent at the rate of rupees eight hundred (Rs. 800) per mile of double track and rupees five hundred (Rs. 500) per mile of single track payable half yearly.
Clause 15C. The said Tramways shall be maintained and kept in repair in such form and manner and upon such a gradient and with such a gauge as the Government may approve, and the engines, cars and carriages intended to run on the said tramways shall be such as are approved by the Government.
Clause 15D. The licensees shall have power from time to time, but with the previous consent of the Government, to fix the rates of fares for carrying passengers and goods in the cars or carriages to be run and used on the said Tramways, provided that the rates of fares on at least one-half the number of such cars or carriages as are available for passengers which daily run on the said tracks shall for any distance not exceed one anna per mile.
Clause 16. Any agreements reached between the Delhi Municipal Committee and the licensees under the Delhi Municipality Electric License of 1905, as amended from time to time, and consents and approvals accorded by the Local Government under the aforesaid License, in respect of any matter arising under this license and in particular in respect of the matters dealt with in clauses 7, 8, 9, 15, 15C and 15D hereof and in the Annexure to this License, shall be construed as having been reached and accorded under this License.
ANNEXURE
List of routes on which the licensees are to maintain Tramways referred to in Clause 15 of the licence
A line or lines to be laid down in consultation with the Delhi Municipal Committee upon all or some of the following roads : –
(1) Queens Road, (2) Mission Church Road (west side of Queen’s Gardens), (3) Koria Pul Road (east side of Queen’s Gardens), (4) Chandni Chowk, (5) Esplanade Road, (6) Road round the south side of Jama Masjid, (7) Chaori Bazar, (8) Bazar Lal Kuan, (9) Kaccha Bagh Road, (10) Khari Baoli Road, (11) Egerton Road, (12) Lahore Gate and through the Sadar Bazar to the Delhi Municipal limits, (13) roads in connection with, or extensions of, any of the above to the suburbs of Sabzimandi and Paharganj.
By Order,
RATAN LAL,
Secretary (Local Self Government) to the Chief Commissioner, Delhi.
ARMED ALI, Dy. Secy.
Home Department (Office of the Chief Commissioner, Delhi)
Delhi, the 14th February 1947
Notification No. 1964
In pursuance of Government of India, Home Department Notification No. 24/12/46-Public, dated the 8th February 1947, I hereby call upon the members of the local bodies mentioned in the annexed Schedule I to elect, in accordance with the instructions laid down in the annexed Schedule II, three members by the method of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote to serve on the Advisory Council for Delhi on or before the 1st April 1947.
W. CHRISTIE,
Chief Commissioner, Delhi.
SCHEDULE I
(Local bodies referred to in the Notification)
Delhi Municipal Committee.
Shahdara Municipal Committee.
Delhi District Board.
SCHEDULE II
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR DELHI
The following instructions explain the procedure which should be followed in the holding of elections to fill the three elected members of the Advisory Council.
- Mr. F. H. D. Teal, Additional District Magistrate, Delhi, shall be the Returning Officer.
- Any person shall be eligible for election provided-
(a) that he is a resident of Delhi and is duly nominated by a member of one of the local bodies mentioned in the Annexed Schedule I and seconded by another member of the said local bodies ; and
(b) that the nomination is accompanied by a declaration by the candidate that he is willing to serve as a member of the Advisory Council. - Only elected members of the local bodies specified in the Schedule are eligible for voting, or for nominating or seconding candidates.
- All nominations shall be submitted by the proposer, seconder or candidate in person or by Registered Post so as to reach the Returning Officer before 11 a.m. on 24th February 1947 in the form appended to these instructions.
- The Returning Officer shall scrutinise the nominations on 25th February 1947 commencing at 11 a.m. in his court and shall reject all nominations that are not in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of these instructions. Candidates may be present.
- It shall be open to any candidate to withdraw his candidature by intimation in writing to the Returning Officer not later than 11 a.m. on 27th February 1947.
- On 8th March 1947 such members of the local bodies mentioned in the Schedule as are entitled and willing to vote (see para. 3 above) shall between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. appear before the Returning Officer in his court and, on such identification as he considers satisfactory, shall receive from him a ballot paper which he has authenticated. After indicating on the ballot paper his preferences in order the voter will deposit it in a ballot box to be provided for this purpose by the Returning Officer.
- The Returning Officer will, at the conclusion of polling, seal the ballot box and send it to the Chief Commissioner, who shall immediately transmit it to the Secretary to the Government of India in the Home Department. Ballot papers will then be examined and counted and the names of elected candidates will be communicated to the Chief Commissioner who shall cause the names of the candidates declared elected to be published in theย Gazette of India.
(Forms of Ballot Paper, Nomination Paper, and Notice of Withdrawal follow in the appendices.)
Home Department
New Delhi, the 8th February 1947
No. 24/12/46-Public
The Governor-General in Council has decided to constitute Advisory Councils to be associated with the Chief Commissioners of Delhi and Ajmer-Merwara in the discharge of their administrative functions and to lay down the following rules to regulate their constitution and procedure:-
(1) Each Advisory Council will consist of the Chief Commissioner, who will preside over the meetings, and seven other Members. Of these seven Members, one will be the representative of the Province in the Central Legislative Assembly, three will be elected by the local bodies such as Municipalities, Notified Area Committees and District or Local Boards and three will be nominated by the Government of India.
All residents of the Province will be eligible for election: the members of all local bodies will form one electoral body for this purpose and the election will be on the basis of proportional representation by single transferable vote.
Nominated Members will be appointed by the Government of India in consultation with the Chief Commissioner and in making nominations Government will ensure that the major communities are represented on the basis of population and that adequate representation is secured for rural interests.
(2) The Chief Commissioner will seek the advice of the Council on-
(a) all financial matters except those which are not subject to the vote of the Legislative Assembly except that items involving recurring expenditure up to Rs. 25,000 and non-recurring up to Rs. 1,00,000 need not be referred to the Council;
(b) matters of administration involving general policy, schemes of development and proposals for legislation but not on matters relating to the day-to-day administration or to individual appointments not involving a principle of any importance;
(c) general questions touching the implementation of general policy and schemes of development;
(d) any other matter which the Chief Commissioner or the Government of India may refer to the Council.
(3) Subject to Chief Commissioner’s discretion to refuse in the public interest to give information or to allow discussion, Members will have the powers in regard to resolutions and interpellations analogous to and under similar limitations as those of Members of the Central Legislature.
(4) Such officers as the Chief Commissioner may permit will be entitled to be present at the meetings and to participate in discussions or furnish information but will not have the right to vote.
(5) The functions of the Council will be advisory only but though their advice will not be binding on the Chief Commissioner due weight will be given to it by him in reaching decisions or making recommendations to Government.
(6) The Advisory Council will meet at least once in three months.
A. E. PORTER, Secy.
Press Information Bureau
PRESS-ADVISING TO CONTINUE
The Press (Special Powers) Bill introduced in the Assembly by the Home Member on the 5th February seeks to replace in substantially identical terms the Ordinance promulgated towards the end of January. Its scope is confined to the control or regulation of news tending to aggravate communal tension.
During the early part of November 1946, as a result of discussions initiated by the Home Member, in which all the Editors of all the leading papers of Delhi participated, Government accepted a proposal put forward by the Press for the establishment of a body of working principles to guide Editors in achieving the same objects as are aimed at in this Bill. The Ordinance recently published and the Bill now introduced do not, in any way, render unnecessary the application of this “Code” and, in particular, the work of the Ad hoc Advisory Committee established as a part of the “Code”. This Committee consists of a number of Editors to whom statements bearing on the communal situation or purporting to be accounts of specific communal incidents are referred for advice as to their conformity with the Code. Government have accordingly asked the Committee to continue to discharge the functions which they previously undertook.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
PRESS (SPECIAL POWERS) ORDINANCE, 1947
By an Ordinance issued on January 29, 1947, the Governor-General has assumed certain special powers for the better control of the dissemination of undesirable matter in Chief Commissioners’ Provinces.
The Ordinance empowers the Administration to prohibit or regulate the dissemination of matter “which tends directly or indirectly to promote feeling of enmity or hatred between different classes of His Majesty’s subjects”, and to require documents containing such matter to be submitted for scrutiny before publication.
Power is also taken to regulate the entry of any undesirable matter emanating from outside, to forfeit to His Majesty any document containing prohibited matter and to search premises or persons. Dissemination of any prohibited matter and contravention of any provision of the Ordinance or of any order made thereunder are cognizable offences and punishable with imprisonment or fine or both.
Press Information Bureau
ALL-INDIA ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE TRAINING SCHOOL AT DELHI: ITS PURPOSE
The Government of India have received a number of enquiries regarding the All-India Administrative Service Training School set up at Delhi, which show that there is a misapprehension regarding the purpose of the School. The School is not intended as a training college for persons who wish to prepare for the competitive examination for admission to the All-India Administrative Service and the Indian Foreign Service. It is intended solely for the training of persons who, on selection by the Federal Public Service Commission, are appointed to those Services on probation.
This year’s batch of probationers, who have just started their training, consists of those war service candidates who were recommended by the Federal Public Service Commission as suitable for appointment to the war-reserved vacancies in the I.C.S. and who, on suspension of recruitment to that Service, have been appointed to the All-India Administrative Service.
Future appointments to the All-India Administrative Service will be made on the results of a competitive examination to be held by the Federal Public Service Commission and enquiries regarding the rules, etc., for the examination, should be addressed to the Secretary, Federal Public Service Commission, Kennedy House, Simla.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
The Government of India have decided that for the purposes of recruitment to Central Civil Services, members of the Agar, Machigar and Nahyavanshi communities in the Province of Bombay shall be recognised as belonging to the Scheduled Castes and, therefore, eligible for vacancies reserved for the Scheduled Castes.
This decision follows the practice in Bombay, where these communities have been similarly recognised for the purposes of recruitment to the Bombay services.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
DISCUSSION OF WELFARE OF SCHEDULED CASTES – ASSURANCE BY HOME MEMBER
“I give you my assurance that so long as we are here, we shall do our best to see that no grievance remains so far as the Scheduled classes are concerned”, said the Hon’ble Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Home Member, Government of India replying to the debate on a cut motion by Rai Bahadur N. Siva Raj in the Central Assembly today (March 11) to discuss the welfare of the Scheduled castes.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel said:
“Sir, with much that has been said by my Honourable friends over there Government have got the fullest sympathy, and I do not think it was necessary or advisable for my Honourable friend Prof. Ranga to put in a defence. It must be admitted that it is a case which is wholly indefensible, and we are ashamed to admit that it is more or less a blot on our society and there is no defence for the crime for which society is responsible.
“It is better that we recognise that fact and see what we can do to remove the blot as expeditiously as possible. With all that sympathy for the cause, I feel considerable difficulty in a variety of ways. We have just come to our own. For 200 years in this country there has been foreign rule. My Honourable friend over there says ‘but for the British rule we would not have been able to make this progress’. God knows what would have happened if the foreigners had not come in this land, it is difficult to say. But the world has not stayed where it was, and India would not have stayed where it was. The foreigners, for the sake of easy administration and removal of difficulties from their own way, created a sort of situation in this country where everything was kept in a sort of a stalemate, and they did not interfere in the social or other customs or other matters, and the progress was practically nil as the Prime Minister in England himself admitted when he said ‘what have we done in 100 years?’ We see that in every debate that takes place in the Parliament this issue comes up. They may criticise us, but we have nothing to answer, because we have no defence, but for them also there is no defence. They are more guilty than we are; they have kept in this country several interests and created in the country such situations that in certain matters there was no progress at all. It was their duty within 100 years to bring in legislation and make untouchability penal in this land, but they did not do it because they were foreigners and they were afraid to interfere in this.
“I do not want to go into that. As I have told you, we have come to our own recently. We have Scheduled Caste ministers in several provinces; they have large blocks of their own representatives; they have brought in the Provinces of the United Provinces, Madras, Central Provinces, and Bombay, bills for the removal of disabilities. I shall at once endorse what has been said by Dr. Solanki about Gujarat. It is always darkness below the lamp, and so also in the province where Gandhiji started his movement the situation is bad or perhaps worse than he has described. But in Bombay the Member in charge of his Portfolio – a Scheduled Caste member – has brought in a Bill, which has been passed; the Bill provides for the punishment of those who infringe its provisions or in any other way offend against the Bill and prevent entry into temples.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
“In so far as Government is concerned, they can take action in two ways: one is administrative and the other is legislative. So far as administrative action is concerned, certain complaints have been made by my Honourable friend, Mr. Siva Raj, that in foreign service they have practically been excluded and in foreign delegations that have been sent outside they have been practically neglected. I do not know about the delegations that have been sent outside, but I shall look into the matter and see if it is possible to help the Scheduled Caste candidates, and if a proper representative is available, certainly we shall be glad to make all possible arrangements. So far as the standard of qualifications is concerned, it is alleged that the standard for foreign service is kept very high. I am afraid that standard for foreign service cannot easily be lowered without detriment to our cause, but with the progress of education and the number of scholarships that have been given to the Scheduled Caste students to go outside and the scholarships that may be liberally provided in this country for their education, I do not see any reason why we would not be able to train young men from the Scheduled Castes who may be able to discharge their duties efficiently and with credit in foreign countries. Therefore, I have every sympathy for the suggestions that Mr. Siva Raj has made, and we shall do our utmost to see that all impediments or handicaps in their way are removed.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
“So far as administrative action is concerned, the age limit for service in the case of Scheduled Castes is relaxed; we have allowed three years more in their case. If they are behind by three years we shall admit them in service. We have relaxed rules about fees and other things that are ordinarily binding on other classes. As regards selection, it is done by departments at present โ partially it is possible that the same amount of care which is to be taken is not perhaps taken and there may be a legitimate grievance. I have decided to appoint a Board for the selection of candidates, particularly in order to look after the interests of Scheduled Caste and minority candidates so that their grievances may be removed. This will ensure selection more or less on the same lines as is done by the Federal Public Service Commission for other services.
“As regards legislative action, you will see that within the short period of the time coming into being of the Ministries in the Provinces, a lot of legislation has been rushed through because we are interested in the matter and particularly because you are very far behind and want the Scheduled Castes to come up to the level so that we may have no distinction and a man may boldly stand and say that he is not going to ask for any favours or hang on the help of others, but he has asked his community to rise and go forward. We should encourage them in their sense of self-respect and dignity so that they should command their claims as a matter of right and not as a matter of favour.
“So far as the question of facilities for education such as scholarships are concerned, ordinarily equal opportunities are given for all but it is quite possible that with equal opportunities the scheduled classes may not have succeeded. As to how far it is possible to relax these rules in their case, I will inquire into the matter and see if it is possible to help them. In all matters, whether brought before this House by the Honourable members representing the Scheduled Classes or if they make suggestions outside, they will receive the most sympathetic consideration. I shall see that justice, moral justice, is done to them and they have no cause for any grievance.
“Apart from this, I have to say one thing. We are coming very near to freedom and whether we wish it or not must be prepared for it and at this stage I would like the Scheduled Classes to be ready as quickly as possible to shoulder their burden and responsibilities. After all they want their share, which is their legitimate share and they must have it. Therefore if they want their share they must be prepared for the assimilation or digestion of their share, because power is an indigestible thing. Power is not easily digestible and therefore though they have a just right to claim their share and perhaps a little more than their share (because they are not strong enough to stand in a line with others to shoulder their responsibility), when power is coming they must be prepared to think in terms of equality. The scheduled classes must shed their inferiority complex and think in terms of equality and that is the greatest help we can give them. With these words, I give my sympathy for them and once more I give my assurance that so long as we are here, we shall do our best to see that no grievance remains so far as the scheduled classes are concerned.”
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
APPEAL OF I.C.S. OFFICER AGAINST CONVICTION REJECTED
The appeal of T. A. Menon, formerly of the Indian Civil Service, against his conviction by the Lower Court was rejected and the conviction upheld in the Calcutta High Court by Mr. Justice Edgley and Mr. Justice Chowdhry.
It may be recalled that T. A. Menon was sentenced to undergo R.I. for 3 years and to pay a fine of Rs. 5,000/- as a result of a case of bribery brought against him by the Special Police Establishment of the Government of India.
GARRISON ENGINEER’S APPEAL DISMISSED
The appeal of Capt. R.V. Mathams, Garrison Engineer, Asansol, against his conviction under section 161 I.P.C. (acceptance of bribe) and a sentence of three years’ R.I. and a fine of Rs. 30,000/- passed upon him by the Special Tribunal at Alipore was dismissed by the Calcutta High Court.
The charge brought against the appellant by the Special Police Establishment, Government of India, was that he accepted a sum equivalent to about Rs. 21,500 as illegal gratification from the proprietor of a firm to show favour to him by granting an extension of time for the performance of his contracts.
ONE YEAR’S R.I. FOR THEFT OF MILITARY STORES
The Special Police Establishment, on information received, raided the house of one P.B. Kishen of the Ordnance Inspection Depot, Delhi and unearthed a number of cotton vests belonging to the Military Stores.
The accused, P.B. Kishen, and two others, Nur Mohammad and Munshi, also of the Ordnance Inspection Depot, were sentenced to one year’s R.I. each as a result of the case started against them, the former for receiving stolen property and the latter two for committing theft.
SIX MONTHS’ R.I. FOR ACCEPTING BRIBE
As a result of a prosecution launched by the Special Police Establishment, Government of India, Rajaram Naidu, Store Clerk, Garrison Engineer’s office, Bangalore, was recently sentenced to one year’s rigorous imprisonment on a charge of accepting Rs. 100/- as illegal gratification to influence a public servant and to nine months’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 200/- on another charge of acceptance of bribe.
On appeal, the conviction was set aside on the first charge, but was maintained on the second charge though the substantive sentence was reduced to six months’ rigorous imprisonment.
DISTRICT SUPPLY OFFICER GETS 18 MONTHS R.I. – STORY OF GRAIN SHOP LICENCE
The Special Police under the Government of India caught ‘red-handed’ Gupteshwar Prasad, a Sub-Deputy Magistrate and an Additional Supply Officer of Muzaffarpur, immediately after he had accepted a sum of Rs. 5,000 from a merchant of Bhagwanpur Bazar. He took the money as a bribe to grant a licence for a Government Grain Godown and Cloth Shop.
The accused was prosecuted before the Sadar Sub-Divisional Officer of Muzaffarpur and was convicted and sentenced to undergo 18 months rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000.
EIGHTEEN MONTHS’ R.I. FOR SALE OF ARMY GOODS
Staff Captain D. J. Kelly, M.T. Spares, I.A.O.C., Eastern Command, was sentenced by the First Special Tribunal at Alipore to eighteen months’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 300/- for misappropriation of the sale proceeds of military goods, a jeep car.
Press Information Bureau
NEW TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ADMINISTRATORS MAY OPEN IN FEBRUARY
Mr. N. J. Desai, a senior I.C.S. of Bombay, has just joined duty as Principal-designate of the Indian Administrative Services Training School.
He is at present engaged in assisting the Home Department in working out the details of the training which would be necessary for probationers selected for the future “I. C. S.” of India.
Until 1941, probationers for the Indian Civil Service received one year’s training in England while being attached to various British universities. On passing the tests, which were held at the end of this period, they were posted to districts in India.
Since 1941, owing to war conditions, initial training for probationers was given at Dehra Dun, where a special school was run under a senior Civil Service officer. The probationers studied law and other subjects necessary for their work in the service. Arrangements were also made from time to time for extension lectures by senior officers of the service on problems of general administration.
It has been decided that newly appointed probationers to the All-India Administrative Service who are under the age of 25 should also be trained in India, and it is hoped that the new Training School will open in February.
Press Information Bureau
TRANSFER OF ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
A report has appeared in a certain section of the Press that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be ceded to the British Government under the new arrangements.
There has been no discussion on this question and the report is entirely without any foundation.
Press Information Bureau
FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (INDIA) – PRESS COMMUNIQUE
Engineering Services Examination
It is hereby notified for general information that the subject, “Sanitary Engineering and Water Supply”, will be excluded from the syllabus prescribed for the examination for recruitment to the Telegraph Engineering Service, Class I, beginning with the examination which may be held by the Federal Public Service Commission in 1948 and thereafter.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
In a Press Note issued on the 23rd July, 1946, it was announced that applications for naturalisation from subjects of European countries, whose naturalisation under the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, had been suspended during the war, would again be considered. During the intervening period there has been ample opportunity for the submission and consideration of applications from such persons and in fact a number of foreigners who qualified for naturalisation under the policy then announced have since been naturalised as British subjects under both British and the Indian Acts. Recently however public feeling has been strongly expressed both in and out of the Legislature against the naturalisation of foreigners as British subjects, and there is a general demand that naturalisation in India should be in terms of Indian and not of British nationality. The Government of India have accordingly reviewed the position and have decided to suspend the naturalisation in India of foreigners under both the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, and the Indian Naturalisation Act, 1926, pending enactment of an Indian Nationality Act which is at present under consideration.
Persons of European nationality, whose applications for naturalisation, are now under consideration, are not affected by this suspension. The further examination of their cases will proceed, but applications received from foreigners other than those mentioned above will not be considered nor will further consideration be given to applications already received from persons not hitherto declared prima facie eligible.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OF HIGH COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE TRANSFERRED
The Governor-General has decided that the administrative control of the Office of the High Commissioner for India in the United Kingdom should be transferred from the Commerce Department to the External Affairs & Commonwealth Relations Department.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
The Government of India have declared Friday, the 15th and Saturday, the 16th of August, 1947 to be public holidays throughout the Dominion of India in celebration of the inauguration of the new Dominion of India, according to a Gazette notification published in the Gazette of India this (Saturday) morning.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
REHABILITATION OF REFUGEES
As a result of communal disturbances a very large number of refugees have been displaced from their homes and have got scattered throughout several provinces and some of the States. In order to devise effective measures for their relief and rehabilitation consultation and co-ordination between the Governments of these Provinces and the States and the Governments of the provinces from which the refugees have migrated is necessary. With the object of co-ordinating efforts for dealing with the problem of these refugees, the Government of India have placed Mr. N. Chandra, C.I.E., I.C.S., who was till recently Financial Commissioner in the Punjab, on special duty to investigate the extent of the problem and resettlement of these refugees. His investigation will cover refugees of all communities.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
The rates of overseas allowance payable from July 1, 1947 to officers under the rule making control of the Secretary of State is still under correspondence with the Secretary of State. Whatever may be the decision regarding rates of allowance from July 1 to August 15, it has been decided that as from August 16, 1947, the scales sanctioned for the Central Government employees will also apply to officers now under the rule making control of the Secretary of State.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
The Home Department of the Government of India recently addressed a letter to all officers of the Secretary of State’s services enquiring whether they wish to continue in service after the transfer of power and regarding other connected points. Replies from a number of officers have not yet been received.
The Government of India will take up the final readjustment of the Provincial cadres of these services very soon and the officers who have not yet been able to reply should send in their replies at once so as to reach the Home Department by July 15 at the latest.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
The Government of India have recently issued an advertisement inviting applications from certain classes of officers who have already retired and who are willing to be considered for re-employment under the Government of India. This does not apply to existing officers of the Secretary of State’s Services in regard to whom an announcement will be made, as already notified, before the end of this month.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
STEPS TO MEET FOOD CRISIS IN BOMBAY AND MADRAS
The Food Ministers and officials from Bombay, Madras, C.P. and the Central Government met in New Delhi on July 14, to draw up plans to meet the impending food crisis in Bombay and Madras. The Madras food position was carefully re-examined and the necessity for the maintenance of existing grain prices and the enforcement of price control was re-emphasised. A procurement plan which would make more rice available to the Government while reducing the pressure on Government stocks was drawn up.
An offer of 20,000 tons of rice by the C.P. Food Minister to meet the grave situation in Madras and Bombay, and the vigorous enforcement of procurement, under Government control, of the grain available for deficit parts of the Presidency, will, it is hoped, enable Madras to pull through the next two months.
Bombay’s food position and allocations from the Centre were reviewed, and it is gathered that supplies for the Province seem assured for August. Its wheat imports will be below requirements, and any increase in the supply of popular grains is considered unlikely. The supply position for September will be examined later, when precise information is available on the possibility of securing ‘food loans’ from certain Indian Provinces, and the availabilities from abroad. In the meantime action is being taken to speed up the wheat shipments from Australia.
External Affairs & Commonwealth Relations Department
PRESS COMMUNIQUE
The Governor-General has decided that the administrative control of the Office of the High Commissioner for India in the United Kingdom should be transferred from the Commerce Department to the External Affairs & Commonwealth Relations Department.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
The Governor-General-in-Council is pleased to announce the amalgamation with effect from June 1, 1947 of the External Affairs Department and the Commonwealth Relations Department into one Department designated the Department of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations, according to a Resolution published in the Gazette of India this morning (May 31).
Home Department
EXTRAORDINARY NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 13th June 1947
No. 518/47-Poll. (I)
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (4) of section 1 of the Bombay Public Security Measures Act, 1947, (Bombay Act VI of 1947), as extended to the Province of Delhi, the Central Government is pleased to direct that sections 7, 8, 10 to 22, 24, 26 and 27 of the said Act shall come into force at once in the whole of the Province of Delhi.
Home Department
PRESS NOTE
For dealing more effectively with communal disturbances in Delhi Province, the Government of India have today, under Section 7 of the Delhi Laws Act of 1912, extended to the Province of Delhi some of the provisions of the Bombay Public Security Measures Act, 1947 for a period of two years.
Some of the powers which the Bombay Government exercises under the Public Security Act are the power to detain or restrict the movement of persons; the power to control essential services; and the power to levy collective fines. These powers are already available to the Delhi Provincial Government in the Restriction and Detention Ordinance 1944, the Essential Services (Maintenance) Ordinance 1941 and the Collective Fine Ordinance 1942 respectively, which are still in force.
As a result of the application of the Bombay Act to Delhi, therefore, the Provincial Administration will now exercise the following additional powers:-
(1) Power to prohibit or restrict the holding of camps and parades and drill of military nature and the wearing and display of uniforms resembling official uniforms.
(2) Enhanced punishment of death or transportation for life for stabbing and of death for attempt to commit murder.
(3) Power to declare associations unlawful if they are organised or equipped for usurping the functions of the military or the police or for the use and display of force in furtherance of their common object.
(4) Constitution of special courts to try offences connected with the communal disturbances and provision for summary trials.
Particular provisions will be brought into force as and when required by circumstances so that the powers actually in force at any time may be the minimum required.
Press Information Bureau
PRESS ADVISING REGARDING COMMUNAL HAPPENINGS
The Government of India have reviewed in consultation with the Press Advisory Committee the working of the “code” devised in November last for press-advising of reports of communal happenings in the country. The “code” laid down as regards treatment of news that “the communities of assailants or victims or casualties in particular incidents should not be indicated either directly or indirectly.” The Committee in the light of experience has suggested a change, the principle of which has been accepted by Government.
Inasmuch as the system of press-advising is voluntary, accordingly, Sub-clause (b) of the “Code” under the heading ‘Sources of News and Its Treatment’ circulated to newspapers and news agencies and published in the press in the middle of November last year is modified to read as follows:-
“Ordinarily the communities of assailants or victims in particular incidents should not be indicated directly or indirectly except when the community in question is easily deducible from events leading up to incidents or from the context of the report itself. In no circumstances should the identity of the communities be published in headlines. The practice of referring to the “majority” or “minority” community merely as a substitute for the name of the community, is clumsy and undesirable and should not be encouraged.”
Other sub-clauses emphasizing the principles that the presentation of news should be factual and objective and that casualty figures are not to be mentioned in the headlines or otherwise prominently featured, remain as before.
Press Information Bureau
PRESS LAWS ENQUIRY COMMITTEE
QUESTIONNAIRE ISSUED BY PRESS LAWS ENQUIRY COMMITTEE
The Press Laws Enquiry Committee, appointed by the Government of India, has decided that the laws regarding the Press in India which the Committee will bring under review should be (1) the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, (2) the Indian States (Protection against Disaffection) Act, 1922, (3) the Official Secrets Act, 1923, (4) the Indian Press (Emergency Powers) Act, 1931, (5) the Foreign Relations Act, 1932, (6) the Indian States (Protection) Act, 1934, (7) Sections 124-A, 153-A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code, (8) Sections 99-A to 99-G of the Criminal Procedure Code, (9) Sections 19 and 181-A to 181-F of the Sea Customs Act, 1878, (10) Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, (11) Sections 25, 26 and 27-B to 27-D of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 and (12) Provisions in Provincial Public Safety or Maintenance of Public Order Acts dealing with censorship, control of publications and import, possession or conveyance of documents.
The Committee has issued the following questionnaire:-
(1) Do you wish to suggest any modifications (repeal or amendment) in any of these laws or sections?
(2) If so, please give details of the modifications proposed and reasons in support of your proposals.
(3) Are the views expressed by you your individual views or do they represent the views of any organisation? Please give your full name, occupation, or designation and personal address and also the name and address of the organisation represented (if any).
(4) Do you desire to give oral evidence before the Committee?
REPLIES AND MEMORANDA INVITED
All persons or organisations who desire to submit replies and memoranda are requested to send them to the Secretary, Press Laws Enquiry Committee, Home Department, New Delhi, so as to reach him not later than May 31, 1947. Those who wish to give oral evidence only without submission of replies or memoranda may also intimate their intention to the Secretary as soon as possible.
The Committee has decided that no invitation other than this general invitation will be sent and it hopes that members of the public and organisations interested in the inquiry will accept this general invitation and respond to it.
Press Information Bureau
GANDHI-JINNAH: CALL FOR SELF-DISCIPLINE
HOME MEMBER’S APPEAL TO THE PRESS
The Hon’ble Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Member for Home, Information and Broadcasting, has issued the following statement:-
“The forthright call for self-discipline and a halt to senseless bloodshed and violence, issued by Gandhiji and Mr. Jinnah, has been universally welcomed and acclaimed in India.
“But the appeal should not be allowed to remain a mere pious expression of hope and sentiments and it is incumbent on all of us, in our respective sphere of duty and service, to follow it up by instant and effective action.
“The Press can make a worthy contribution not only by featuring the appeal prominently at intervals or whenever tension and communal feelings threaten to get the better of human reason or judgment, but also by bearing it in mind in the treatment and presentation of communal matters. A moment’s reflection on the message and significance of the appeal may prevent a hasty word or deed from doing incalculable harm to life and property.
“I would, therefore, appeal to every newspaper and periodical to respond to the appeal in the spirit in which it was made, to give it all possible prominent publicity and to make it an article of faith and a guide to action.”
Press Information Bureau
PRESS LAWS ENQUIRY COMMITTEE – FIRST MEETING HELD IN DELHI
The first meeting of the Press Laws Enquiry Committee appointed by the Government of India to review Press Laws in British India in order to bring them into line with the Press Laws of other progressive countries was held in New Delhi today (April 12) under the Chairmanship of Rai Bahadur Ganga Nath. Those present were the Hon’ble Nawabzada Khurshid Ali Khan, Member Council of State; the Hon’ble Rai Bahadur Sri Narain Mahtab, Member Council of State; Mr. Sri Prakasa, M.L.A. (Central); Mr. Tushar Kanti Ghosh, Editor, “Amrita Bazar Patrika” and Mr. G. V. Bedekar, I.C.S. (Secretary).
The Chairman opened the proceedings with an account of the origin and growth of the various Laws relating to the Press in India. The Committee discussed the agenda which included consideration of the Laws to be examined by the Committee, the drafting of a questionnaire, the procedure and programme of the Committee and the examination of witnesses.
A questionnaire will be issued by the Committee shortly. The Committee will meet again about the middle of July to consider the memoranda and replies received in response to the questionnaire and to settle the further programme of the examination of witnesses.
Home Department
EXTRAORDINARY NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, Sunday, March 23, 1947
No. 150/47-Public
Rear Admiral the Right Honourable the Viscount Mountbatten of Burma, K.G., P.C., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., K.C.B., D.S.O., Viceroy and Governor-General Designate, arrived at the Palam Airfield on Saturday the 22nd March 1947 and was received on arrival with all the honours due to his position. He was received at the Airfield by Representatives of His Excellency the Viceroy; The Hon’ble Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru; The Hon’ble Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan; His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief; The Political Adviser to His Excellency the Crown Representative; The High Commissioner for the United Kingdom; The Hon’ble the President of the Council of State; The Hon’ble the President of the Central Legislative Assembly; The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Forces in India; The Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy; The Chief Commissioner, Delhi Province; The Commander, Delhi District; The Senior Superintendent of Police, Delhi; and The Air Force Station Commander.
A salute of thirty-one guns was fired as Admiral the Viscount Mountbatten’s aircraft landed.
- A combined Guard of Honour of the R.A.F., R.I.A.F. and 9/14 Punjab Regiment was drawn up at the airfield. After receiving a Royal Salute and inspecting the Guard of Honour, Admiral the Viscount Mountbatten, accompanied by the Viscountess Mountbatten, motored to the Main gates of the Viceroy’s House where he received a Royal Salute from the Governor-General’s Bodyguard. At this point the Viceroy designate entered the State Carriage and was escorted to the Viceroy’s House by the Governor-General’s Bodyguard. A Guard of Honour of the Royal Scots Fusiliers was drawn up at the Viceroy’s House. After receiving a Royal Salute and inspecting the Guard of Honour, Admiral the Viscount Mountbatten was received by Their Excellencies the Viceroy and the Viscountess Wavell.
Home Department
EXTRAORDINARY NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 30th May 1947
No. 240/47-Public
Whereas Rear Admiral VISCOUNT MOUNTBATTEN of Burma, K.G., P.C., G.M.S.I., G.M.I.E., G.C.V.O., K.C.B., D.S.O., Governor General of India has this day returned to duty from leave of absence, it is hereby notified that the said Rear Admiral Viscount Mountbatten of Burma has resumed the office of the Viceroy and Governor General of India and Crown Representative.
R. N. BANERJEE, Secy.