The Acquired Territories (Merger) Act, 1960
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs / Department of States
Act details
| Short title | The Acquired Territories (Merger) Act, 1960 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to provide for the merger into the States of Assam, Punjab and West Bengal of certain territories acquired in pursuance of the agreements entered into between the Governments of India and Pakistan and for matters connected therewith. |
| Act number | 64 of 1960 |
| Act year | 1960 |
| Enactment date | 28 Dec 1960 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Home Affairs / Department of States |
| Department | Department of States |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 11 |
| Schedules | 2 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 4 Nov 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Summary
Summary of the Acquired Territories (Merger) Act, 1960
Key Provisions
1. Territorial Integration
• Affected States: Assam, Punjab, West Bengal
• Acquired Territories: Defined in the First Schedule, based on Indo-Pakistan agreements (dated 10th September 1958, 23rd October 1959, and 11th January 1960)
• Effective Merger Date: "Appointed Day" (later notified as 17th January 1961)
2. Administrative and Legal Framework
• Administration: Managed by respective State Governments through designated administrative units.
• Legislative Extension:
• Pre-merger laws in the acquired territories ceased.
• Laws of Assam, Punjab, and West Bengal extended to the merged territories.
3. Property, Assets, and Finance
• Asset Distribution: Vested in the Union for federal purposes or in the respective State.
• Financial Provisions: State Legislatures authorized to allocate funds from their Consolidated Funds for the merged territories.
4. Electoral Adjustments
• Constituency Adjustments: Existing parliamentary, assembly, and council constituencies were construed to include the merged territories.
• Continuity of Representation: Sitting members deemed elected from the altered constituencies as of the appointed day.
5. Transitional Measures
• Power to Address Difficulties: Empowered the Central and State Governments to issue orders for a transitional period (up to three years from the appointed day) to facilitate a smooth merger.
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Acquired Territories (Merger) Act, 1960
Act Title - The Acquired Territories (Merger) Act, 1960
Act Number / Year - 64 of 1960
Act ID (India Code) - 196064
Presidential Assent Date - December 28, 1960
Enforcement Date - January 17, 1961
Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Home Affairs
Precedent & Historical Rationale
● Constitutional Integration of Acquired Territories - Enacted to merge certain acquired territories transferred from Pakistan under the Indo-Pakistan Agreements into the States of Assam, Punjab, and West Bengal in accordance with Article 253 and Article 3 of the Constitution.
● Administrative and Representation Adjustment - Formulated to provide for the political representation, judicial jurisdiction, and administrative integration of residents living in newly incorporated border enclaves.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
● Formulation - Introduced by the Ministry of External Affairs following bilateral land boundary agreements entered into between the Governments of India and Pakistan in 1958 and 1959.
● Parliamentary Passage - Debated and passed by both Houses of Parliament (Second Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) in December 1960.
● Presidential Assent - Received Presidential Assent on December 28, 1960.
● Enforcement - Enforced on January 17, 1961
Source - Official Record of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Home Affairs.