DRAFT CONSTITUTION 709
new obligations upon themselves as between them and the unit or merged State or any other unit that you may conceive of. Therefore, with regard to any transaction that is to take place after the commencement of the Constitution it will be regulated by the agreement which the Provinces will be perfectly free under the Constitution to make, and we need therefore make no provision at all. With regard to the other class of States, as I said, in a case like Mysore it will be independent to make its own arrangement. When that arrangement is made we shall undoubtedly incorporate that in the special part which we propose to enact dealing with the special provisions relating to States in Part III, Therefore, so far as article
270 is concerned, I think there can be no difficulty in regard to it and I think it should be passed as it stands.
Shri Mahavir Tyagi : May I know it the agreement mentioned here relates only to financial agreement or does it relate to territorial agreement also ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It speaks of assets and liabilities and obligations. If, for instance, a Province has admitted a certain State and has undertaken an obligation to pay the Ruler a certain pension, that will be an obligation within the meaning of article 270. The transfer of territory will be governed by other provisions.
Shri H. V. Kamath : May I know why the word “rights” mentioned in the marginal sub-head is omitted in the article ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The Drafting Committee will look into it.
Shri B. Das : With regard to properties possessed by India in foreign countries, specially in the U. K. may I know why those are not included among properties in article 270 ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I think that property is subject to partition between India and Pakistan, e.g., the India Office Library, etc., I understand that is being discussed.
Shri B. Das : What about the Sterling Balances ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : My Honourable Friend knows more about it than I do.
[Article 270, as amended by the only amendment of Dr. Ambedkar, was added to the Constitution.]