India - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition india

Definition :

India, the territory of India comprises the territories of the States and that of Union territories which are specified in Sch. 1 of the Constitution and any other territories which may be acquired, Constitution of India, Art. 1(3)(a), (b), (c).

means Bharat, a Union of States, Constitution of India, Art. 1.

India, in 1876, by the (English) Royal Titles Act, 1876 (39 & 40 Vict. c. 6), Queen Victoria was empowered to add to the style of the Crown, with a view of recognizing the transfer of the Government of India to the Queen by the Government of India Act, 1858 (21 & 22 Vict. c. 106), and the addition of 'Empress of India' was made by Proclamation in April, 1876, with which addition as 'Emperor of India' it has passed to his present Majesty.

In any Act of Parliament passed after 1889 the expression 'British India' means 'all territories and places within her Majesty's dominions which are for the time being governed by her Majesty through the Governor-General of India or through any governor or other officer subordinate to the Governor-General of India,' and the expression 'India' means 'British India together with any territories of any native prince or chief under the sovereignty of her Majesty exercised through the Governor-General of India, or through any gover-nor or other officer subordinate to the Governor-General of India.' The repealed Government of India Act, 1915 (5 & 6 Geo. 5, c. 61), repealed wholly or in part a series of forty-seven earlier Acts from 1770 to 1912, with necessary re-enactments for the earlier history of the country, see Mill's History of British India.

The Government of India Act, 1936 (Geo. 5), now regulates the Government of India, and introduces a Federation of Indian States and Provinces, the executive authority of which shall be exercised by the Governor-General, who has the advice of a Council of Ministers. The Federal Legislature con-sists of His Majesty represented by the Governor-General and two Chambers, the Council of State and the House of Assembly, known as the Federal Assembly. The Council of State is a permanent body'one-third of the members retiring in every third year; the Federal Assembly shall continue for five yeas unless dissolved sooner.

The (English) Government of Burma Act, 1935 (26 Geo. 5, c. 3), regulates the Government of Burma. The executive authority is exercised by the Governor, who has the advice of a Council of Ministers. The Legislature consists of his Majesty, represented by the Governor, and two Chambers known as the Senate, consisting of 36 members, and the House of Representatives of 13 members.

Means the territory of India excluding the State of Jammu and Kashmir. (Indian Penal Code, 1860, s. 18)

India shall mean,--

(a) as respects any period before the establishment of the Dominion of India, British India together with all territories of Indian Rulers then under the suzerainty of His Majesty, all territories under the suzerainty of such an Indian Ruler, and the tribal areas;

(b) as respects any period after the establishment of the Dominion of India and before the commence-ment of the Constitution, all territories for the time being included in that Dominion; and

(c) as respects any period after the commencement of the Constitution, all territories for the time being comprised in the territory of India. [General Cla-uses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), s. 3(28)]

India as the territories to which the Code extends. [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)]