Maharaja’s birthday celebrated with fervour in Jammu

#GS-01 History

About Maharaja Hari Singh:

Maharaja Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
He signed the Instrument of Accession with India in 1947.
He remained the titular Maharaja of the state until 1952, when the monarchy was abolished by the Indian government.

The Instrument of Accession was a legal document first introduced by the Government of India Act 1935 and used in 1947 and enables each of the rulers of the princely states under British paramountcy to join either one of the new dominions of India or Pakistan created by the Partition of British India.
The Government of India Act 1935 introduced the idea of the Instrument of Accession, wherein a ruler of a princely state could accede his kingdom into the ‘Federation of India’.
The Jammu and Kashmir Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh is the most well known and controversial amongst them.
It was executed under the provisions of the Indian Independence Act 1947.
The IoA gave India’s Parliament the power to legislate in respect of J&K only on the matters of defence, external affairs and communications.
Other than defence, communications and external affairs, the IoA mentions ancillary subjects including elections to the dominion legislature and offences against laws with respect to any of the said matters.
Using IoA, Article 370 was incorporated in the Constitution of India.
The accession of Jammu and Kashmir was accepted by Lord Mountbatten of Burma, Governor-General of India, on 27 October 1947.

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