JUNE 3RD PLAN,1947

When all of Mountbattens efforts to keep India united failed, he

chalked out a plan for the transfer of power and the division of
the country.

The plan was finalized in the Governors Conference in April

1947, and was then sent to Britain in May where the British
Government approved it.
The plan for the transfer of power to which all concerned had
agreed, was authoritatively announced by the British
Government in the form of a statement on June 3, by Prime
Minister Attlee in the House of Commons and Secretary of State
for India the Earl of Listowel in the House of Lords.

 Prime Minister Attlee and his cabinet gave the approval in a meeting that lasted
not more than five minutes. In this way, the plan that was to decide the future of the
Indo-Pak Sub-continent was actually authored by a Congress-minded Hindu and
was approved by Nehru himself.

These were Nehru, Patel, Kriplalani, Quaid-i-Azam, Liaquat, Nishtar and

Baldev Singh. After these leaders approved the plan, Mountbatten discussed it with
Gandhi and convinced him that it was the best plan under the circumstances.
The plan was made public on June 3, and is thus known as the June 3rd
Plan.

MOUNTBATTEN PLAN

THE FOLLOWING WERE

THE MAIN CLAUSES OF THIS PLAN:
The Provincial Legislative Assemblies of Punjab and Bengal were to meet in
two groups, i.e., Muslim majority districts and non-Muslim majority districts. If
any of the two decided in favor of the division of the province, then the Governor
General would appoint a boundary commission to demarcate the boundaries of
the province on the basis of ascertaining the contiguous majority areas of
Muslims and non-Muslims.
The Legislative Assembly of Sindh (excluding its European Members) was to
decide either to join the existing Constituent Assembly or the New Constituent
Assembly.
In order to decide the future of the North West Frontier Province, a
referendum was proposed. The Electoral College for the referendum was to be
the same as the Electoral College for the provincial legislative assembly in 1946.
Baluchistan was also to be given the option to express its opinion on the
issue.
If Bengal decided in favor of partition, a referendum was to be held in the
Sylhet District of Assam to decide whether it would continue as a part of Assam,
or be merged with the new province of East Bengal.

 Lord Mountbatten presented a plan on 3rd

June 1947.
It offered a key to the political and constitutional deadlock.
Mountbatten's formula was to divide India.
The country would be partitioned but so would be Punjab
and Bengal.
The ceremony for the transfer was held on 14th August
1947 in Karachi and 15th August 1947 in Delhi.
Two self governing countries legally came into existence at
the stroke of midnight on 15 August 1947.

THE PLAN'S MAIN POINTS WERE:

Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims in Punjab and Bengal
legislative assemblies would meet and vote for partition. If
a simple majority of either group wanted partition,
then these provinces would be divided.
Sindh was to take its own decision.(Favoured Pakistan)
Balochistan: Shahi Jirga and Quetta Municipal corporation
had to make decision.
Sylhet: to decide its own fate.
KPK/NWFP: to under go referendum.(90% favoured
Pakistan)
India would be independent by 15 August 1947.
A boundary commission to be set up in case of partition.

EXTRA INFORMATION