THE INDIAN INDEPENDENCE ACT 1947

Lord Mountbatten introduced the Indian Independence Act on July 4, 1947 in the British Parliament to implement the plan. By 16 July it was passed by both the Houses of the Parliament. On July 18, the British Emperor gave his approval to it. There were a total of 20 sections in this act. It was a huge historical event in British history, that the act of giving independence to a country was passed so soon. Following were the main sections of this act

(1) On August 15, 1947, two independent Dominions will be made. They will be members of the British Commonwealth. They will have the right that if they want, they can later resign from the membership of the Commonwealth.

(2) All those powers which were earlier with the British Parliament, will go into the hands of the Governments of India and Pakistan from 15th August.

(3) Which areas would be in India and Pakistan were clearly described in the act. A commission will be appointed under the chairmanship of Sir Cyril Radcliffe only to divide the border of Punjab and Bengal. Whatever be the decision of this commission, both the dominions will accept it.

(4) Both the dominions were given the right to constitute their own Constituent Assembly as per their wish. These Constituent Assemblies will have the right to voluntarily frame the constitution of their respective dominions.

(5) The British Emperor shall appoint a Governor-General for each of the two Dominions. This Governor-General would be the head of his dominion. If both the dominions agree, a common governor-general of both can also be appointed.

(6) It was also decided that until both the dominions frame their respective new constitutions, the governance there would be carried on by the Act of 1935. Each Dominion will have the right to amend the Act of 1935 at will.

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Mahatma Gandhi and the National Movement (Part — 8–1947 Act) (ancientmodernhistory.gq)