THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION 101
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY, FEB. 26,1948 133
the Committee recommended that they should continue to be administered by the Government of India as at present, with such adjustments as might be deemed necessary: in other words, these Islands were to continue as a Chief Commissioner’s province. The member representing Ajmer-Merwara and the member representing Coorg on this Committee appended a note to the Committee’s report, in which they said that the special problems arising out of the smallness, geographical position and scantiness of resources of these areas might at no distant future necessitate the joining of each of these areas to a contiguous unit. They therefore urged that there should be a specific provision in the Constitution to make this possible after ascertaining the wishes of the people concerned.
So far as Delhi is concerned, it seems to the Committee that as the capital of India it can hardly be placed under a local administration. In the United States, Congress exercises exclusive legislative power in respect of the seat of the Government; so too in Australia. The Drafting Committee has, therefore, come to the conclusion that a more comprehensive plan than that recommended by the ad hoc Committee is desirable. Accordingly, the Drafting Committee has proposed that these central areas may be administered by the Government of India either through a Chief Commissioner or a LieutenantGovernor or through the Governor or the Ruler of a neighbouring State. What is to be done in the case of a particular area is left to the President to prescribe by order; he will, of course, in this, as in other matters, act on the advice of responsible ministers. He may, if so advised, have a Lieutenant-Governor in Delhi; he may, again, if so advised, administer Coorg either through the Governor of Madras or through the Ruler of Mysore after ascertaining the wishes of the people of Coorg. He may also by order create a local Legislature or a Council of advisers with such constitution, powers and functions, in each case, as may be specified in the order. This seems to the Drafting Committee to be a flexible plan which can be adjusted to the diverse requirements of the areas concerned.
The Committee has also provided that Indian States (such as those of the Orissa group) which have ceded full and exclusive authority, jurisdic