Treaties of accession were signed with the rulers of India, formally inducting the kingdoms into India. A standard template is maintained, a few changes, kingdom specific, are incorporated as in the case of Manipur, where Manipur Basti in Guwahati is the king’s personal property.
Agreement made this <date> between the Governor General of India and His Highness the Maharaja of <kingdom>.
Whereas in the best interests of the State of <kingdom> as well as of the Dominion of India it is desirable to provide for the administration of the said State by or under the authority of the Dominion Government, it is hereby agreed as follows:
Article – 1 :-
His Highness the Maharaja of <kingdom> hereby cedes to the Dominion Government full and exclusive authority, jurisdiction and powers for and in relation to the governance of the State and agrees to transfer the administration of the State to the Dominion Government on the <date> (hereinafter referred to as ‘the said day’).
As from the said day the Dominion Government will be competent to exercise the said powers, authority and jurisdiction in such manner and through such agency as it may think fit.
Article – 2 :-
His Highness the Maharaja shall continue to enjoy the same personal rights, privileges, dignities and titles<anything extra, kingdom specific> which he would have enjoyed had this agreement not been made.
Article – 3 :-
His Highness the Maharaja shall with effect from the said day be entitled to receive for his lifetime from the revenues of the State annually for his privy purse the sum of Rupees <one time settlement> free of all taxes. After him the privy parts will be fixed at Rupees <amount> only. this amount is intended to cover all the expenses of the Ruler and his family, including expenses on account of his personal staff, maintenance of his residences, marriages and other ceremonies, etc., and will neither be increased nor reduced for any reason whatsoever.
The Government of India undertakes the said sum of Rupees <amount> shall be paid to His Highness the Maharaja in four installments in advance at the beginning of each quarter from the State Treasury or at such Treasury as may be specified by the Government of India.
Article – 4 :-
His Highness the Maharaja shall be entitled to the full ownership, use and enjoyment of all private properties (as distinct from State properties) belonging to him on the date of this agreement.
His Highness the Maharaja will furnish to the Dominion Government before the <date>, an inventory of all the immovable property, securities and cash balances held by him as such private property.
If any dispute arises as to whether any item of property is the private property of His Highness the Maharaja or State property, it shall be referred to a Judicial Officer qualified to be appointed as High Court Judge, and the decision of that Officer shall be final and binding on both parties.
Article – 5 :-
All the members of His Highness’ family <including the regent – name> shall be entitled to all the personal privileges, dignities and titles enjoyed by them whether within or outside the territories of the State, immediately before the 15th day of August 1947.
Article – 6 :-
The Dominion Government guarantees the succession, according to law and custom, to the Gaddi of the State and to His Highness the Maharaja’s personal rights, privileges, dignities and titles,<for some – authority over religious observances, customs usages, rites and ceremonies and institutions in-charge of the same in the State.>.
Article – 7 :-
No enquiry shall be made by or under the authority of the Government of India, and no proceedings shall lie in any court in <kingdom> against His Highness the Maharaja<or the regent>, whether in a personal capacity or otherwise, in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by him or under his authority during the period of his administration of that State.
Article – 8 :-
(i) The Government of India hereby guarantees either the continuants in service of the permanent members of the public services of <kingdom> on conditions which will be not less advantageous than those on which they were serving before the date on which the administration of <kingdom> is made over to the Government of India or the payment of reasonable compensation.
(ii) The Government of India further guarantees the continuance of pensions and leave salaries sanctioned by His Highness the Maharaja to servants of the State who have retired or proceed on leave preparatory to retirement, before the date on which the administration of <kingdom> is made over to the Government of India.
<Only for some:
(iii)The Government of India shall also undertake to make suitable provisions for the employment of <citizens of kingdom – Manipuris> in the various branches of Public Services, and in every way encourage <citizens of kingdom> to join them. They also undertake to preserve various laws, customs and conventions prevailing in the State pertaining to the social, economic and religious life of the people.>
Article – 9 :-
Except with the previous sanction of the Government of India no proceedings, civil and criminal, shall be instituted against any person in respect of any act done or purpoting to be done in the execution of his duties as a servant of the State before the day on which the administration is made over to the Government of India.
In confirmation whereof Mr. Vapal Pangunni Menon, Advisor to the Govt. of India in the Ministry of States has appended his signature on behalf and with the authority of the Governor General of India and <signatory>, has appended his signature on behalf of <himself/the king>, his heirs and successors.
The same template can be seen clearly from the agreements made with Cooch Behar(28 Aug 1949 – Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur) and Tripura(9 Sep 1949 – Queen Mother Kanchan Prabha Devi in place of the king Manikya Kirit Bikram Kishore Dev Barma Bahadur)
Manipur agreement is slightly different because of the additional clauses arising of the religious position of the king and the properties held in Shillong. The agreement on a later day. It’s a different thing that it is completely heart wrenching to trash a two millennia old dynasty and it’s associated culture as if it never existed.