Representative Assembly of French India

In 1946, French India (Inde française) became Overseas territory (Territoire d'outre-mer) of France. Then, in the same year on 25 October, the Representative Assembly of French India (Assemblée représentative de l'Inde française) of 44 members has been created that replaced the general council (conseil général) of 30 members.[1][2]:99

Representative Assembly of French India

Assemblée représentative de l'Inde française (French)
Type
Type
Term limits
5 years
History
Founded1946
Disbanded1955
Preceded byFrench India General Council (Conseil général de l'Inde française)
Succeeded byPondicherry Representative Assembly
Seats44 (25 December 1946 – 1 May 1951)
39 (1 May 1951 – 11 Jun 1955)
Elections
First-past-the-post
First election
1946
Last election
1951
Meeting place
Pondichéry

Formation

During the start of Fourth Republic, by decree nº 46-2381, dated 25 October 1946, passed by the Government of France instituting a Representative Assembly in the French India.[3]:1027–1041 People of both genders have been allowed to vote. This assembly had 44 seats in total. A member of this assembly was referred as Councillor. The seat of the representative assembly is assigned at Pondichéry and the tenure is fixed to be 5 years.

Commune-wise allocation of seats

French India consisted of five establishements, namely, Pondichéry, Chandernagore, Karikal, Mahé and Yanaon. The allocation of 44 seats of the Assemblée Représentative of French India for the 17 communes of French India. Établissements de Pondichéry and Karikal had eight and six electoral constituencies (circonscription électorales), respectively. While, Chandernagore, Mahé and Yanaon had one electoral constituency, respectively.[3]:1044–1046

As per Article 2 of the decree, the composition of the assembly is determined as below[3]:1028

  • Établissement de Pondichéry (total 22 seats)
    • Pondichéry: 6
    • Ariancoupom: 2
    • Bahour: 2
    • Modéliarpeth: 2
    • Oulgaret: 4
    • Nettapacom: 2
    • Tiroubouvané: 2
    • Villenour: 2
  • Établissement de Karikal (total 12 seats)
    • Karaikal Ville: 4
    • Cotchéry: 2
    • Grand'Aldée: 2
    • Neravy: 1
    • Nédouncadou: 1
    • Tirnoular: 2
  • Établissement de Chandernagore (total 5 seats)
  • Établissement de Mahé (total 3 seats)
  • Établissement de Yanaon (total 2 seats)

List of Seats
Constituencies of French India Representative Assembly
Settlements (Établissements)Seats (sièges)Constituencies (circonscriptions)
Pondicherry 22

Pondicherry:Mouttalpeth, Couroussoucoupom, Cassicade, Pondicherry, Bussy Street, Ouppalam
Ariancoupom:Archivak–Ariancoupom, Tavalacoupom,
Bahour:Bahour, Courouvinatam–Karaiamputtur,
Modéliarpeth:Mouroungapacom, Nellitope,
Oulgaret:Oulgaret, Calapeth, Saram–Lawspet,Rettiarpaleom
Nettapacom:Nettapacom, Embalam
Tiroubouvané:Sellipet–Suthukeni, Mannadipet,
Villenour:Villenour, Oussoudou

Karikal 12 Cotchery:Cotchery-Mada Kovil, Thirumeniyazhagar,
Karikal :Karikal Nord, Karikal Centre, Karikal Sud, Karaikovilpattu,
Tirnoular:Tirnoular-Tharparinswarar Kovil, Tirounalar-Padhrakaliamman Kovil,
Neravy:Neravy,
Neduncadou:Neduncadou,
Grand Aldée:Grand Aldée-Nord, Grand Aldée-Sud
Mahe 3 Mahé:Mahé (Ville), Pallor, Pandakkal
Yanaon 2 Yanaon:Cancalapeth, Adi Andhrapeth
Chandernagore 5 N.A.

Functioning of the assembly

This Assembly met twice in ordinary sessions of 30 days duration and twice in extraordinary sessions of 15 days. It was called either by the Governor or by two-thirds of the members, if necessary on the prerequisite. The President of the Assembly was selected on the basis of seniority by age. The Assembly was permitted to deliberate and give its opinion on matters referred to it. The Governor or head of the French Indian administration assured the implementation of the decisions or opinions of the Assembly. The budget prepared by the Governor and his council was discussed and it was implemented by his order. In fact the Assembly and the Governor shared the initiative of incurring state expenditure. In short, the Assembly was nothing more than an approving body as the Head of French India was endowed with the power of overriding the decision or opinion of the Assembly. In reality, it could not take up or discuss matters which were not submitted before it, and from that point of view its scope was very restricted.[2]:99–101

Impact of Chandernagore merger into Indian Union

Chandernagore has been merged into Indian Union by a referendum held on 19 June 1949, where its people overwhelmingly voted for merger with India. The de-facto transfer of Chandernagore to the Indian Union took place on 2 May 1950.[4] This changed the strength of the representative assembly to 39 seats.

1946 French India Representative Assembly election
Further information: 1946 French India Representative Assembly election

The first election to the Representative Assembly was held on 15 December 1946.[5][6] The election was won by the National Democratic Front of Deiva Zivarattinam, that won 30 out of 44 seats.[5][6]

1951 French India Representative Assembly election
Further information: 1951 French India Representative Assembly election

The second election to the Representative Assembly was held on 16 December 1951.[5][7]

Impact of merger of French India into Indian Union

The de-facto transfer of French settlements in India has happened on 1 November 1954. These four french settlements were organized as State of Pondicherry.

Dissolution

On 11 June 1955, The Government of India has dissolved the Representative Assembly of the State of Pondicherry via State of Pondicherry (Representative Assembly Decree Amendment) Order.[8] Later, Pondicherry Representative Assembly has been created that functioned until 1964. After the de-factor merger and before the legal integration (i.e. de-jure transfer) with the Indian Union on 16 August 1962, general elections to the assembly were held in 1955 and 1959. The French settlements in India were de-jure transferred on 16 August 1962.

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See also

References
  1. "Les établissements français en Inde au XIXe siècle, 1816–1914 (4)". Jacques Weber. FeniXX. 1988.
  2. S., Geetha (2008). Society and politics in French India: merger and anti-merger alignments in the Mid-Twentieth century (PhD). Pondicherry University.
  3. Journal Officiel des établissements français dans l'Inde, 1946.
  4. "Gazetteers of India, Union Territory of Pondicherry" (PDF). Government of Pondicherry. Directorate of Printing. 1982. p. 10.
  5. Moutoussamy, Ernest. Les députés de l'Inde française à l'Assemblée Nationale sous la VIe République. Paris [u.a.]: Harmattan, 2003. p. 28
  6. Philippe Bonnichon; Pierre Gény (2012). Présences françaises outre-mer, XVIe-XXIe siècles. KARTHALA Editions. p. 659. ISBN 978-2-8111-0737-6.
  7. J. B. Prashant More (2007). The Telugus of Yanam and Masulipatnam: from French rule to integration with India. M.S. p. 251.
  8. "Extraordinary Gazette of India, 1955, No. 468" (PDF). Government of India. Directorate of Printing. 1955.
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