Municipal administration in French India

Although the France established colonies in India as of the 17th century, it is not before the end of the 19th century that it divided this one into commune.

History of the communes

A Décret dated from the March 12th 1880 introduced a system of municipal administration of French type, with some six years mandates for the stations of Maire S and city council men.

The territory was initially divided into ten communes, namely:

  • colony of Pondichéry
    • Pondichéry
    • Oulgaret
    • Villenour
    • Bahour
  • colony of Karikal
    • Karikal
    • Grand' Aldee
    • Nedoungadu
  • colony of Chandernagor
    • Chandernagor
  • colony of Mahé
    • Mahé
  • colony of Yanaon
    • Yanaon

As the various communes were too large to allow an effective administration, a Décret of the December 24th 1907 reorganized them in 17 communes:

  • colony of Pondichéry
    • Pondichéry
    • Ariancoupom
    • Mudaliarpeth
    • Oulgaret
    • Bahour
    • Nettapacom
    • Villenour
    • Tiroubouvane
  • colony of Karikal
    • Karikal
    • Tirounallar
    • Nedoungadu
    • Kottucherry
    • Grand' Aldee
    • Neravy
  • colony of Chandernagor
    • Chandernagor
  • colony of Mahé
    • Mahé
  • colony of Yanaon
    • Yanaon

Following the fusion of Chandernagor and Western Bengal, the number of communes was tiny room to sixteen.

The communal structure

Each commune is equipped with a Mairie where seat the municipal administration and has twelve to eighteen seats of city council men. The commune is managed by the municipal council and the mayor. The term of the office of a municipal council 6 years, with half of the members is renewed at the 3 years.

History of the municipal elections

After the reorganization in 17 communes Elections held on the basis of indo-French agreement gone back to June 1948 After the transfer de facto to the Indian Union on November 1st 1954

Outstanding elections

The elections of the October 24th 1948 and of the October 18th 1954 were particularly outstanding for the history of the French India.

Elections of October 24th, 1948

The municipal elections of 1948 were more or less peaceful. The organization Congress Karma Parishad, an organization subsidized by the members of the Parti the Indian Congress of the Bengal gained 22 of the 24 seats. Parishad aimed at fusion with the India.

The 15 December new the Municipal council voted for a resolution to require fusion with India and required the French governments and of Indians that the change of administration occur " in a smooth and friendly way before the 31 March 1949 ".

  • Number of seat: 24

    • Siège of the Congress Karma Parishad: 22
    • Siège of the pro-French Group: 2

The March 3rd 1949 it was decided organization of a separate referendum.

The Référendum was held the June 19th 1949. On: 10503 voters, with: 6387 votes cast: 6165 (97%) were for the union with the India, and only 119 to remain under French Souveraineté.

Other results of elections of 1948

In June 1948 the French governments and Indians managed an agreement as for the determination of the future of the French establishments. municipal elections were held has Pondichéry, Karikal and Yanaon on October 24th, 1948. The two principal parties were the Socialist party of French India (the Socialistes), favorable to French sovereignty, and the Parti the Congress National Indian, favorable to the union with the India.

  • Pondichéry : 102 Socialist

    • : 83
    • Left the Congress: 13 Independent
    • : 9

  • Karikal : 74 Socialist

    • : 64
    • Left the Congress: 10

  • Yanaon : 12 Socialist

    • : 03
    • Independent: 09

  • Mahé : 12

    • Because of serious disorders, the elections were not held in Mahé.

Results of election of 1954

The negotiations between the France and the India took again the first August 1954. A compromise between the French and Indian points of view was found. October 18th a joint communiqué declared that " all the elected members of the Representative Parliament and the municipal councils will assemble themselves in Congress on October 18th with Pondichéry to consider the common proposals of the two Governments for a final payment on the future of the establishments and to record their decision on these proposals like an expression of the wishes of the gens".

The Congress met in Kizhoor, a Village of the establishment of Pondichéry. After having considered the draft agreement proposed by French and the Indians, the Congress voted the secret bulletin for the union with the India. An agreement for the transfer in fact of the Establishments was then signed with Delhi on October 21st, 1954.

  • total Voters: 178

Municipal authorities after the transfer

Even after the transfer to the Indian Union, the municipal authorities is based on the Décret of 1880, but with the considerable modifications.

See too

External bond

  • Official site of the pondichéry area

  • Official site of the Government of the Territory of Union of Pondichéry

  • THE FRENCH AND PORTUGUESE SETTLEMENTS IN INDIA (In English)

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