Administrative History of Himachal Pradesh (Prelims)

June 3, 2021

In 1948” Himalayan Prant Provisional Government” was set up, headed by Shiva Nand Ramaul to ensure the merger of the hill states with Indian State.
On 2nd March 1948, a decision was taken for the formation of Himachal Pradesh in Delhi, in a meeting between the secretary of the Ministry of States and rulers of the hill states. The princely rulers were led by Raja Joginder Sen of
Himachal Pradesh in its present form came into being as a `Chief Commissioner province’ of the Indian Union on 15th April 1948 as a result of merger of 30 erstwhile princely states of Punjab and Shimla These states were Baghat, Bhajji, Baghal, Bejar, Balsan, Bushahar, Chamba, Darkoti, Delath, Dhadi, Dhami, Ghund, Jubbal, Khaneti, Koti, Kumarsain, Kunihar, Kuthar, Mandi, Madhan, Mahlog, Mangal, Ratesh, Keonthal, Rawingarh, Sangri, Sirmaur, Suket, Tharoch and Theog.
The Chief Commissioner was aided and advised in the discharge of his functions by an Advisory Council consisting of nine members, three of whom represented the erstwhile princely states and Six being public representatives.
Princely states representatives: Raja of Mandi, Raja of Chamba, Raja of Baghat.
People’s Representatives: S. Parmar, PAdam Dev, Shiv Chand, Lilavati, Swami Purnand and Avtar Chand.
All these areas at that time constituted four districts Chamba, Mahasu, Mandi and Sirmaur with an area of 27,018 sq kms.
By Section 3 of the Govt. of India Part ‘C’ states Act, 1951 passed in September 1951 Himachal Pradesh was designated as a Part ‘C’ state.
On March 1, 1952, Major General Himmat Singh was appointed as the first Lt. Governor of the state.
First general election to the 36 membered H.P. Legislative Assembly was held on November Congress emerged as the majority party with 24 seats. On March 24, 1952, Dr. Y.S. Parmar became the first Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.
On July 1, 1954 Part ‘C’ state Bilaspur was merged with Himachal Pradesh. It became 5th district of Himachal Pradesh and the areas of the state increased to 28185 sq km. The strength of the Legislative Assembly also raised to 41.
Himachal Pradesh maintained its status of a part ‘C’ state of the Indian Union till 1956. In 1956, Himachal Pradesh become Union territory after passing of State Reorganisation Act, 1956.
In 1960, the border tehsil of Mahasu districts (Chini tehsil) was carved out as a separate administrative unit and district Kinnaur was formed raising the total number of district to six.
On 1st November, 1966, the Punjab state was reorganized with the formation of Haryana as a separate state and merger of the then Kullu, Kangra, Shimla and some hilly areas of Hoshiarpur district and Dalhousie of Gurdaspur district into Himachal Pradesh constituting four new district viz. Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Kangra and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh and merging Dalhousie into Chamba With this addition the Himachal Pradesh constituted of ten districts, with an area of 55,673 sq. kms. and a population of 28.12lakh according-to 1961 population census.
On the integration of Punjab Hill areas with Himachal Pradesh in 1966, following districts and tehsils were formed in the new administrative divisions:

1. Lahaul &

Spiti District

(i) Lahaul tehsil and (ii) Spiti tehsil

2. Shimla

District

(i) Shimla tehsil, (ii) Kandaghat

tehsil and (iii) Nalagarh tehsil

3. Kangra District

(i) Kangra tehsil, (ii) Palampur tehsil, (iii) Nurpur tehsil, (iv) Dehra Gopipur tehsil, (v) Hamirpur tehsil and (vi) Una (it was a tehsil of

Hoshiarpur district)

4. Kullu District

(i) Kullu tehsil, (ii) Banjar sub-tehsil,

(iii) Ani sub-tehsil and (iv) Nirmand sub-tehsil

On Jan 25, 1971 , first woman Prime Minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi on Girja Maidan( now Known as the Ridge) in Shimla, inaugurated the Himachal Pradesh as the 18th state of the union of
On September 1, 1972, Hamirpur and Una districts were carved out of the Kangra District while Shimla and Mahasu were reorganized to Shimla and Solan Districts. Now the number of districts in H.P. raised from ten to twelve viz Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul, Spiti, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan and Una. After delimitation of Assembly seats in the year 1971-72, the number of Members in the Assembly now stands at 68.