INDIA BILL PRESENTED

Chronicle (Levin), 5 July 1947, Page 5

INDIA BILL PRESENTED

Press Assn.

Two Independent Dominions From August 15 |

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Eeceived Saturday, 9.50 a.m. LONDON, July 4. The Indian Independence Bill, which was presented in the House of Commons today, provides that from August 15 two independent 'Dominions, known as India and Pakistan, be established in India. Pakistan includes all territories in the provinces of East Bengal and West Punjab. The province of Bengal, as constituted under the Government of India Act, 1935, ceases to exist. Instead there will be constituted two new provinces, which w'ill be called East Bengal and West Bengal. The present Punjab Province will cease to exist and there will be two llew provinces, .West Punjab and East Punjab. The boundaries of the new provinces may be determined by a boundary commission appointed by the Governor-General. His Majesty will appoint a GovernorGeneral for each new Dominion. Unless the Legislature of either of the two Dominions provides to the contrary, the same person may be Governor-General of both the new Dominions. Each of the new Dominions' Legislature will have full power to make laws, including laws having an extra-territorial operation. No law and no provision for any law made by the new Dominions will be void or inoperative on the ground that it is repugnant to the law of England. No Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom passed on or after the day of the partition will have effect in the new Dominions. By the Bill the assent of Parliament will be given for the omission from the PLoyal Titles of tfTe words "India Imperator" and "Emperor of India" and'to His Majesty's issue for that purpose of a Royal Proclamation.

The Governor-General shall make such provisions as appear necessary or expedient for bringing the provisions of the Act into effective operation. These powers are effective from June 3 last. Orders to be made by the Gover-nor-General will provide for a division of the armed forces between the new Dominions and for the command of the forces until each division is completed. The Governor-General of each new Dominion will have power to assent in His Majesty's name to any law of the Legislature of the Dominion, and so much of any Act as relates to the disallowance of laws bv His Majesty or the reservation of laws for the signature of His Majesty's pleasure. The Bill defines the new Dominion of India as the territories under the sovereignty of His Majesty, which, before the partition, were included in British India, except the territories which will be Pakistan.