Pondicherry Representative Assembly

In 1946, French India (Inde française) became Overseas territory (Territoire d'outre-mer) of France. Then, in the same year on October 25, 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).[1]

During the start of Fourth Republic, by decree nº 46–2381, dated October 25, 1946, passed by the Government of France instituting a Representative Assembly in the French India. This originally assembly had 44 seats in total. After merger of Changernagore, the size reduced to 39. 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.

The de facto transfer of French settlements in India has happened on November 1, 1954. In January 1955, The Indian union government by an order renamed these four French settlements in India as Union Territory of Pondicherry.[2]^: 20 Later, on June 11, 1955, The Government of India has dissolved the Representative Assembly of French India by Pondicherry (Representative Assembly Decree Amendment) Order.[3] After extending the 1951 Peoples Representative Act of the Indian Union to the State of Pondicherry, fresh elections were conducted to the Pondicherry Representative Assembly in July 1955 based on universal adult franchise.

After 1951, French India consisted of four settlements (French: établissements), namely, Pondichéry, Karikal, Mahé and Yanaon. The allocation of 39 seats of the Assemblée Représentative of French India for the 17 communes of French India. Établissements de Pondichéry and Karikal had 8 and 6 electoral constituencies (circonscription électorales), respectively. While, Mahé and Yanaon had one electoral constituency, respectively.[4]^{: 1044–1046}

As per Article 2 of the decree, the composition of the assembly is determined as below[4]^: 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 Mahé (total 3 seats)
  • Mahé: 3
• Établissement de Yanaon (total 2 seats)
  • Yanaon: 2

The 1955 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election was held from July 18 to 23. Initially, Maurice Pakkiriswamy Pillai led the Pondicherry Representative Assembly from August 17, 1955,[5] until his death in January 1956.[6]^: 64–65[7] At that point another cabinet comprising Eduard Goubert, Chandrasekhara Chettiar, Mohammed Yusoof, S. Dakshinamoorthy Mudaliar and Thiagraja Naicker was formed.[8]

The 1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election were held from August 11 to 14. Among the winners, a six-membered council (of ministers) was formed under leadership of V. Venkatasubba Reddiar. It had V. Venkatasubba Reddiar, Eduard Goubert, C. E. Barathan, Gouroussamy Pillai, P. Shanmugam and Mohamed Ismail Maricar.[9]

The representative assembly building was inaugurated during the 2nd Assembly by then Commissioner S. K. Dutta on 11 August 1961. However, that event was boycotted by the leaders of People's Front which was the principal opposition party. However the deputy leader of opposition, M. M. Hussaine clarified that it was a passive demonstration to garner some attention from the Central government to hasten the process of de-jure transfer. A resolution urging de-jure transfer was passed by the Assembly during November 1959.[10]^: 82

The French settlements of India were de jure transferred on August 16, 1962. Pondicherry Representative Assembly functioned until June 30, 1963, and succeeded by Puducherry Legislative Assembly. The Indian Parliament enacted the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 that came into force on July 1, 1963,[11] and the pattern of Government prevailing in the rest of the country was introduced in this territory also, but subject to certain limitations. Edouard Goubert became the chief minister in the subsequent Pondicherry Legislative Assembly.

• Puducherry Legislative Assembly
• Representative Assembly of French India
• Municipal Administration in French India
• French colonial empire
• French India