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{{EngvarB|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}{{Short description|Treaty incorporating the region into India}}
{{Infobox Treaty
| name = Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir)
| long_name = Instrument of Accession of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] state to the [[Dominion of India|Union of India]]
| image =
| image_width = 100px
| caption = Page 1 of Treaty
| type = Accession Treaty
| date_drafted =
| date_signed = 26 October 1947
| location_signed = [[Srinagar]]/[[Delhi]]
| date_sealed = 27 October 1947
| date_effective = 27 October 1947
| condition_effective = Acceptance by the Governor-General of India
| date_expiration = Perpetual Validity
| signatories = {{flagicon|Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)}}[[Maharaja]] [[Hari Singh]],<br />{{flagicon|India}}[[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Louis Mountbatten]]
| parties = {{flagicon|Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)}}[[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]<br /> {{flagicon|India}}[[Dominion of India]]
| depositor = [[Dominion of India]]
| language = English
| languages =
| website =
| wikisource =
}}
{{wikisource|Index:Instrument of Accession and Standstill Agreement of Jammu and Kashmir to Dominion of India.pdf}}

The Instrument of Accession is a legal document executed by [[Maharaja]] [[Hari Singh]], ruler of the [[princely state]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], on 26 October 1947.<ref>Justice A. S. Anand, ''The Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir'' (5th edition, 2006), [https://books.google.com/books?id=wSXRUwNnMB0C&pg=PA67 page 67]</ref><ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2004/rp04-028.pdf Kashmir, Research Paper 04/28 by Paul Bowers, House of Commons Library, United Kingdom.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326182755/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2004/rp04-028.pdf |date=2009-03-26 }}, page 46, 2004-03-30</ref>{{efn|While the Instrument of Accession carries the date of 26 October, scholars believe that it was actually signed on 27 October.<ref>* {{citation |last=Raghavan |first=Srinath |title=India's War: The Making of Modern South Asia, 1939-1945 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=boimCgAAQBAJ |year=2016 |publisher=Penguin Books Limited |ISBN=978-1-84614-543-8 |pp=107–108}}: "The question of when exactly he signed the instrument of accession has been the focus of much scholarly debate and has resulted in a literature out of all proportion to the importance of the matter. Suffice it to say that it was almost certainly signed on 27 October 1947—not the 26th as claimed by India."</ref>}}
By executing this document under the provisions of the [[Indian Independence Act 1947]], [[Maharaja]] [[Hari Singh]] agreed to accede to the [[Dominion of India]].<ref>Patricia Gossman, [[Vincent Iacopino]], Physicians for Human Rights,"The crackdown in Kashmir" (1993),[https://books.google.com/books?id=i5cRpu6XSLQC&pg=PA10 page 10]</ref><ref>Bruce B. Campbell, Arthur David Brenner," Death squads in global perspective: murder with deniability"(2002),[https://books.google.com/books?id=BlXPSphM840C&pg=PA271 page 271]</ref>

In a letter sent to Maharaja Hari Singh on 27 October 1947, the then [[Governor-General of India]], [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten]] accepted the accession with a remark, "it is my Government's wish that as soon as law and order have been restored in Jammu and Kashmir and her soil cleared of [[Pakistan |the invader]] the question of the State's accession should be settled by a reference to the people."<ref>Thomas Bruce Millar," The Commonwealth and the United Nations "( 1967),[https://books.google.com/books?id=U88OAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA26 page 26]</ref> Lord Mountbatten's remark and the offer made by the Government of India to conduct a plebiscite or [[referendum]] to determine the future status of Kashmir led to a dispute between India and Pakistan regarding the legality of the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India.<ref>Sumit Ganguly, "Conflict unending: India-Pakistan tensions since 1947"(2001),[https://books.google.com/books?id=xn_QVYLy6ocC&pg=PA154 page 154]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2702/stories/20100129270204100.htm |title=KASHMIR QUESTIONS by A.G. NOORANI |access-date=20 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711170613/http://hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2702/stories/20100129270204100.htm |archive-date=11 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> India claims that the accession is unconditional and final while Pakistan maintains that the accession is fraudulent.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1762146.stm Kashmir: The origins of the dispute by Victoria Schofield]</ref>

The accession to India is celebrated on [[Accession Day (Jammu and Kashmir)|Accession Day]], which is held annually on 26 October.<ref name = "Sify - Accession Day">{{cite web| url = http://sify.com/news/jammu-all-set-to-celebrate-accession-day-news-national-kkzsuicghgb.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111030055343/http://www.sify.com/news/jammu-all-set-to-celebrate-accession-day-news-national-kkzsuicghgb.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2011-10-30|title=Jammu all set to celebrate accession day|publisher=[[Sify]]|access-date =2007-12-31}}</ref>

==Text==
[[File:Kashmir Accessiuon document side 1.jpg|thumb|upright=1|P1.
Instrument of accession Kašmir]]
[[File:Kashmir Accessiuon document side 2.jpg|thumb|upright=1|P2.
Instrument of accession Kašmir]]
The full text of the Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir) executed by Maharaja Hari Singh on 26 October 1947 and accepted by [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten of Burma]], [[Governor-General of India]], on 27 October 1947 (excluding the schedule mentioned in its third point) is as follows:<ref name=ia>{{cite web |url=http://jklaw.nic.in/instrument_of_accession_of_jammu_and_kashmir_state.pdf |title=Instrument of Accession executed by Maharajah Hari Singh |date=26 October 1947 |publisher=Law Department of Jammu and Kashmir Government}}</ref>

{{cquote|Whereas the [[Indian Independence Act 1947]], provides that as from the fifteenth day of August, 1947, there shall be set up an Independent Dominion known as India, and that the [[Government of India Act 1935|Government of India Act, 1935]] shall, with such omission, additions, adaptations and modifications as the governor-general may by order specify, be applicable to the Dominion of India.
And whereas the Government of India Act, 1935, as so adapted by the governor-general, provides that an [[princely state|Indian State]] may accede to the Dominion of India by an Instrument of Accession executed by the Ruler thereof.

Now, therefore, I Shriman Inder Mahander Rajrajeswar Maharajadhiraj Shri Hari Singhji, Ruler of Jammu and Kashmir State,<ref>http://jklaw.nic.in/instrument_of_accession_of_jammu_and_kashmir_state.pdf</ref> in the exercise of my sovereignty in and over my said State do hereby execute this my Instrument of Accession and

# I hereby declare that I accede to the Dominion of India with the intent that the governor-general of India, the Dominion Legislature, the Federal Court and any other Dominion authority established for the purposes of the Dominion shall, by virtue of this my Instrument of Accession but subject always to the terms thereof, and for the purposes only of the Dominion, exercise in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir (hereinafter referred to as "this State") such functions as may be vested in them by or under the Government of India Act, 1935, as in force in the Dominion of India, on the 15th day of August, 1947, (which Act as so in force is hereafter referred to as "the Act").
# I hereby assume the obligation of ensuring that due effect is given to the provisions of the Act within this state so far as they are applicable therein by virtue of this my Instrument of Accession.
# I accept the matters specified in the schedule hereto as the matters with respect to which the Dominion Legislatures may make laws for this state.
# I hereby declare that I accede to the Dominion of India on the assurance that if an agreement is made between the Governor General and the ruler of this state whereby any functions in relation to the administration in this state of any law of the Dominion Legislature shall be exercised by the ruler of this state, then any such agreement shall be deem to form part of this Instrument and shall be construed and have effect accordingly.
# The terms of this my Instrument of accession shall not be varied by any amendment of the Act or of the [[Indian Independence Act 1947]] unless such amendment is accepted by me by an Instrument supplementary to this Instrument.
# Nothing in this Instrument shall empower the Dominion Legislature to make any law for this state authorizing the compulsory acquisition of land for any purpose, but I hereby undertake that should the Dominion for the purposes of a Dominion law which applies in this state deem it necessary to acquire any land, I will at their request acquire the land at their expense or if the land belongs to me transfer it to them on such terms as may be agreed, or, in default of agreement, determined by an arbitrator to be appointed by the Chief Justice Of India.
# Nothing in this Instrument shall be deemed to commit me in any way to acceptance of any future constitution of India or to fetter my discretion to enter into arrangements with the Government of India under any such future constitution.
# Nothing in this Instrument affects the continuance of my sovereignty in and over this state, or, save as provided by or under this Instrument, the exercise of any powers, authority and rights now enjoyed by me as Ruler of this state or the validity of any law at present in force in this state.
# I hereby declare that I execute this Instrument on behalf of this state and that any reference in this Instrument to me or to the ruler of the state is to be construed as including to my heirs and successors.

Given under my hand this 26th day of OCTOBER nineteen hundred and forty seven.

Hari Singh

Maharajadhiraj of Jammu and Kashmir State.

----

I do hereby accept this Instrument of Accession. Dated this twenty seventh day of October, nineteen hundred and forty seven.

(Mountbatten of Burma, Governor General of India).
}}

Some scholars have questioned the official date of the signing of the accession document by the Maharaja. They maintain that it was signed on 27 October rather than 26 October. However, the fact that the Governor General accepted the accession on 27 October, the day the Indian troops were airlifted to Kashmir, is generally accepted.<ref>{{citation |first=Victoria |last=Schofield |author-link=Victoria Schofield |title=Kashmir in Conflict |publisher=I. B. Taurus & Co |location=London and New York |year=2003 |orig-year=First published in 2000 |isbn=1860648983 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rkTetMfI6QkC&pg=PA56 |pages=56–58}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.andrewwhitehead.net/full-text-a-mission-in-kashmir.html|title=Full text: A Mission in Kashmir|website=ANDREW WHITEHEAD|language=en|access-date=2019-08-27}}</ref> An Indian commentator, [[Prem Shankar Jha]], has argued that the accession was actually signed by the Maharaja on 25 October 1947, just before he left Srinagar for Jammu.<ref>{{citation |last=Jha |first=Prem Shankar |author-link=Prem Shankar Jha |title=The Origins of a Dispute: Kashmir 1947 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0kluAAAAMAAJ |year=2003 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-566486-7}}</ref>
Before taking any action on the Maharaja's request for help the Govt. of India decided to send Mr. V.P. Menon, representing Govt.of India who flew to Srinagar on the (25.10.1947). On realizing the emergency situation, V.P Menon advised the Maharaja to leave immediately to Jammu so as to be safe from invaders.
The Maharaja did the same and left Srinagar for Jammu that very night (25.10.1947) while Menon and Mr.Mahajan Prime Minister flew to Delhi early next morning.(26.10.1947). On reaching there New Delhi Govt. assured Menon & Mahajan a militarily rescue of J&K State only after signing of accession instrument. Hence Menon flew back to Jammu immediately with the Instrument of Accession. On reaching Jammu he contacted the Maharaja who was in sleep at that time after a long journey, who at once signed the Instrument of Accession. V.P Menon flew back immediately on (26.10.47) to Delhi along with the legal documents.<ref>The Early Times http://www.earlytimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=248744| 26 November 2018</ref>

==See also==
* [[Instrument of Accession]]
* [[Indian integration of Junagadh#Instrument of accession|Instrument of Accession of Junagadh]]
* [[History of Jammu and Kashmir#1947|History of Kashmir]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{citation |last=Whitehead |first=Andrew |title=A Mission in Kashmir |url=http://www.andrewwhitehead.net/full-text-a-mission-in-kashmir.html |year=2007 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-670-08127-1}}

==External links==
* Venkatesh Nayak, [https://thewire.in/76079/public-first-time-jammu-kashmirs-instrument-accession-india/ Exclusive: For the First Time, a True Copy of Jammu & Kashmir’s Instrument of Accession], The Wire, 26 October 2016.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100612114256/http://jammukashmir.nic.in/govt/cntit1.htm#1 Proclamation of 1 May 1951 on Jammu & Kashmir Constituent Assembly by Yuvraj (Crown Prince) Karan Singh from the Official website of Government of Jammu and Kashmir, India]
* [http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/SSEAL/SouthAsia/kashmir.html Conflict in Kashmir: Selected Internet Resources by the Library, University of California, Berkeley, USA; [[University of California, Berkeley]] Library Bibliographies and Web-Bibliographies list]

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Instrument Of Accession (Jammu And Kashmir)}}
[[Category:Legal documents]]
[[Category:History of the Republic of India]]
[[Category:Indian documents]]
[[Category:Kashmir conflict]]
[[Category:1947 in India]]
[[Category:Treaties concluded in 1947]]
[[Category:Treaties entered into force in 1947]]
[[Category:1947 documents]]
[[Category:Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)]]

Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir) - Revision history

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