HP Admin History (Full Text)

Administrative History of HP

Detailed Chronological Notes

1948

Formation of Himachal Pradesh

Formation Details 15 April 1948

Significance: Therefore 15 April is celebrated as Himachal Day because first time Himachal Pradesh came into existence as unit of India.

Event: Himachal Pradesh was constituted as a separate administrative unit — a Chief Commissioner’s Province under the Government of India.

Merged States Breakdown

26 Shimla Hill States (except Nalagarh).
3 Punjab Hill States — Sirmaur, Chamba, and Suket.

Total merged: 29 on 15 April 1948.

Note: Mandi (Punjab Hill State) joined later, on 1 May 1948.

Crowning Events (The merger was the culmination of:)

26 Jan 1948 The Solan Conference

18 Feb 1948 The Suket Satyagraha

The 30 Erstwhile Princely States

“The States of Bilaspur, Chamba, Mandi, Sirmour and Suket were the members of Chamber of Princes and were called Punjab Hill States where as the remaining non chamber States were known as Shimla Hill States. Consequent upon the attainment of Independence when the country had to face the problem of integration of all the princely States, the heat of the controversy blew as to how the consolidation of the Punjab Hill States and the Shimla Hill States could be concluded.”

1. Major States (Punjab Hill States)

Chamba Mandi Suket Sirmaur

2. Detailed List (Shimla Hill States)

Bushahr (and its tributaries Khaneti, Delath)
Keonthal (and tributaries Koti, Theog, Madhan, Ghund, Ratesh)
Baghal, Baghat, Jubbal, Rawin, Dhadi
Kumharsain, Bhajji, Mahlog, Balsan, Dhami
Kuthar, Kunihar, Mangal, Beja, Darkoti, Tharoch, Sangri

Total: 30 princely states merged into Himachal Pradesh.

Administrative Division (1948)

Four Districts Formed

Chamba Erstwhile state of Chamba.

Sirmaur Erstwhile state of Sirmaur.

Mandi Formed by merging Mandi and Suket.

Mahasu Formed by merging remaining 26 hill states (Bushahr, Keonthal, Jubbal, etc.).

Total Area

27,018 sq. km

Population

9,35,000

The 1948 Administrative Setup

System: Chief Commissioner Province

First Administration

Chief Comm: Mr. N.C. Mehta

Deputy Comm: Mr. Penderel Moon

Public Sentiment: The people were dissatisfied with the bureaucratic setup. Called it the “Mehta–Moon misrule.”

Advisory Council

30 September 1948

Purpose: To advise on policy, development, and legislation.

3 Rulers

CHAMBA, MANDI, BAGHAT

6 People’s Reps

Leela Vati
Dr. Y.S. Parmar
Avtar Chand Mehta
Swami Purna Nand
Sh. Padam Dev
L. Shiv Charan

1948-50

Committees & Territorial Changes

Pattabhi Sitaramayya Committee (1948–49)

Context: Growing discontent with the bureaucratic rule.

Appointed by: Constituent Assembly of India.
Chairman: Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
Purpose: To draft a constitution for Chief Commissioner’s Provinces.

Key Recommendations:

Creation of Legislatures in these provinces.
Establishment of Responsible Ministries.
Certain supervisory powers to remain with the Centre.

Territorial Changes (1950)

Areas Added to Himachal (Mahasu District)

From East Punjab: Solan Cantonment, Kotgarh, Kotkhai.
From Uttar Pradesh: Sangog and Bhattar villages into jubbal tehsil.
From PEPSU: Kufri area, villages of Dhar Kulag, Goila, Jamrarha, Nathal, Kunjiara, Sureta, and Baragaon jungle.

Areas Transferred from Himachal

To East Punjab: Sanjauli, Bharari, Chakkar, Kasumpati, Patti Rihana, and Prospect Hill.
To PEPSU: Rampur Vanka and Kotah villages.

1950-52

Part ‘C’ State & Transition

From Chief Commissioner to Lt. Governor

26 Jan 1950 Constitution of India came into force

Part ‘C’ Status Received by HP and Bilaspur (from earlier status of Chief Commissioner Province).

Administrative Reality

No major administrative change occurred as head was still Chief Commissioner.

Bilaspur Ruled By:

Chief Comm: Anand Chand

Dy. Chief Comm: Sri Chand Chabra

(Until 1954 merger)

Himachal Ruled By:

Chief Comm: E.P. Moon

Resentment amongst people with his rule.

Public Reaction

Widespread resentment against Penderel Moon’s autocratic rule.

Congress members resigned (as they were advisors to him).
“Anti–Chief Commissioner Day” observed.

30 Mar 1951 Leadership Change

Mr. Moon replaced by Mr. Bhagwan Sahai (Indian officer).

Discontent amongst people still continued.

Sep 1951 Enactment

Government of Part ‘C’ States Act, 1951 passed.

Granted “responsible government of a limited character.”

1 Mar 1952 Administrative Change

Post of Chief Commissioner replaced by Lt. Governor.
Popular democratic ministry to be set up democratically by elections.

First Lt. Gov Major General (Retd.) Himmat Singh Ji

First Vidhan Sabha & Popular Ministry (1951–52)

Elections November 1951 For a 36-member Vidhan Sabha.

Result Congress won 24 seats.

1953-56

Bilaspur Merger & UT Crisis

States Reorganization & Bilaspur Merger (1953–54)

Rumours (End of 1952): Punjab allegedly sought the merger of Himachal and PEPSU.

States Reorganisation Commission (SRC)

Formed: 29 Dec 1953.

Chairman Justice Fazil Ali

Members K.M. Panikkar, H.N. Kunzru

Merger of Bilaspur (1954)

Act: H.P.–Bilaspur (New State) Act, 1954.
Date: 1 July 1954.
Effect: Bilaspur became 5th District of Himachal Pradesh.

Total Area 28,185 SQ KM

Assembly Seats 41

Achievement: Major success for Dr. Y.S. Parmar’s ministry.

SRC Report & Loss of Statehood (1955–56)

Report (30 Sept 1955)

Majority Recommendation Merge Himachal with Punjab.

Dissent Justice Fazil Ali supported separate identity for Himachal.

Outcome

Dr. Parmar convinced Nehru to keep Himachal separate, but — Statehood was revoked in 1956 by State Reorganisation Act 1956. Himachal reverted to bureaucratic rule.

Consequences

31 Oct 1956

Dr. Parmar Resigned

“No sacrifice is too great to save Himachal Pradesh.”

1 Nov 1956

Became a Union Territory

Territorial Council & Limited Self-Government (1956–1962)

Constitutional Change

Parliament amended Clause 239 (Seventh Amendment) — allowing UTs to have their own administrative acts.

Territorial Council Act (1956)

System Introduced dyarchy (dual governance system).

Composition 41 elected + 2 nominated members. 12 RESERVED FOR SC

Elections May–June 1957.

Inauguration 15 August 1957.

Leadership

President Karam Singh Thakur

Vice Prez Vidya Sagar

Nature of Rule “Council handled some subjects; major powers with Lt. Governor. Called a ‘queer mixture’ of British-era reforms.”

Formation of Kinnaur District

1 May 1960

Event: Kinnaur district carved out of Mahasu district.
Areas Included: Chini tehsil and 14 villages from Rampur tehsil.
Subdivisions: Nichar, Kalpa, and Pooh (with Moorang & Hangrang sub-tehsil).

Restoration of Democracy (1962–63)

Ashok K. Sen Committee (June 1962)

Recommended greater legislative powers for Territorial Councils.

Popular leaders (from HP, Tripura, Manipur) demanded full assemblies.

Government Response & Result

Parliament Enacted:

Constitution (14th Amendment) Act, 1962
Government of Union Territories Act, 1963

Result: Restored Legislative Assemblies and Ministries in Himachal, Tripura, and Manipur.

New Ministry & Full Democratization (1963)

Support from Lal Bahadur Shastri (Home Minister)

“Better to delegate power fully than take half-hearted steps.”

Territorial Council Vidhan Sabha

New Ministry (1 July 1963)

Chief Minister: Dr. Y.S. Parmar
Ministers: Thakur Karam Singh and Hari Dass.

1966

Integration of Punjab Hill Areas

Background & Committees

1. Background: The Punjabi Suba Movement

Leader Containing the Movement

Pratap Singh Kairon (“Strong Man” of Punjab) successfully contained the movement during his tenure.

Shift in Power

After Kairon’s exit, Congress stability collapsed, enabling the Akalis to revive the movement.

2. The Reorganization Question (1965–1966)

Revival of Demand (1965): The question of reorganizing Punjab resurfaced in 1965.

Step 1

Hukam Singh Committee (September 1965)

A Parliamentary Committee appointed to study the issue.

Chairman: Speaker Hukam Singh.

Recommendation: Supported creation of Punjabi Suba.

Govt Conceded: March 1966

Step 2

J.C. Shah Commission (April 1966)

Head: Justice J.C. Shah.

Purpose: To adjust boundaries of the new state following division.

Integration of Punjab Hill Areas with HP (1966)

1. Background & Public Demand

Discontent People of the Punjab hill areas felt neglected by the plains-oriented Punjab government.

Admiration They admired the progressive administration of Himachal Pradesh and demanded integration.

Supporting Reasons Linguistic & Cultural Affinity with Himachal people. Similarity of Developmental Challenges. Administrative Viability of merging with a hill state.

2. Government Decision

Following the recommendation to split Punjab into two states (Punjab and Haryana), the Government of India decided to merge the Punjab hill areas with Himachal Pradesh.

Date of Integration: 1 November 1966

Post-Merger Administration

3. New Administrative Divisions added Post-Merger were

(a) Kangra District: Tehsils: Kangra, Palampur, Nurpur, Dehra Gopipur, Hamirpur, and Una (Una was formerly a tehsil of Hoshiarpur district). Pathankot tehsil (from Gurdaspur district) was also added.
(b) Kullu District: Kullu tehsil and sub-tehsils of Banjar, Anni, and Nirmand.
(c) Shimla District: Shimla, Kandaghat, and Nalagarh (transferred from Ambala district).
(d) Lahaul-Spiti District: Lahaul and Spiti tehsils.

4. Impact of the 1966 Merger

Area Expanded to 55,673 sq. km.

Population Rose to 28,12,463 (as per 1961 Census).

Seats

56 = 54 + 2 by Prez Nomination.

Administrative Expansion Number of districts increased from 6 to 10.

Legislative Adjustment (January 1967) MLAs from the merged hill areas of Punjab were declared members of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha.

New Ministers Added Lal Chand Prarthi and Bakshi Pratap Singh joined the Cabinet.

1967

1967 Vidhan Sabha Elections

Election Data & Ministry

1. Elections (February 1967)

Seats Contested: 60 Nominated: 3 Total: 63

Party Position (1967)

Indian National Congress 37
Independents 17
Jan Sangh 7
CPI 2

Comparison (1970)

Congress (R) 43
Independents 10
Jan Sangh 7
CPI 2

2. Formation of the Ministry

14 March 1967 Initial

Chief Minister: Dr. Y.S. Parmar (3rd term)

Cabinet Ministers: L.C. Prarthi, Chaudhary Hari Ram

Cabinet Expansions

April 22, 1967

Ministers: Sukh Ram, Ram Lal

Deputy: Daulat Ram Sankhyan, Kartar Singh Wazir, Mehnga Singh, Nek Ram Negi.

July 20, 1967

Ministers: Karam Singh, Padam Dev

Deputy: Vidya Sagar.

1971

Full Statehood

The Demand for Full-Fledged Statehood

1. Background: Post-Merger Aspirations

After the 1966 integration, Himachal acquired its natural shape. It was logical to demand statehood.

Initial Delay: Caused by new administrative burdens of integration.

2. Political Mobilization (Timeline)

Pradesh Congress Exec. Committee 5 July 1965

Passed resolution demanding full statehood (final stage envisaged by Sardar Patel in 1948).

Vidhan Sabha Resolution 24 Jan 1968

Unanimous resolution demanding full statehood.

Negotiating Committee

Head: Prof. Tapinder Singh

Objective: Take up issue with Congress High Command & Centre.

3. Dr. Y.S. Parmar’s Strategy

Avoided Home Ministry: Officials were reluctant to lose control over UTs.

Shifted to Parliamentary Lobbying: Private Members’ Resolutions received overwhelming support.

Key Debate Topic: Economic Viability Late 1969 – Early 1970

Statehood Bill & Formation (1970–1971)

1. Statehood Bill Introduction

Date 31 July 1970.

Event The Bill for the grant of Statehood to Himachal Pradesh was introduced in Parliament.

2. Parliamentary Passage

Support Members from all major political parties extended full support to the Bill.

Act Passed

18 December 1970 “The State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970.”

3. Inauguration of Full Statehood

25 January 1971

Event: Inauguration of the new State of Himachal Pradesh as the 18th State of the Indian Union.

Presided By PM Smt. Indira Gandhi

Venue The Ridge, Shimla

Marked the culmination of decades of struggle — from princely agitation (1896) to democratic statehood (1971).

chief commissioner to state