Integrity Score 405
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BIRTH-PANGS OF NEW INDIA continues...
After leaving Court, I went to the hotel and for the first time met the Maharani and the Yuvraj who entertained me to tea. Bakhshi Sir Tek Chand was also there. The Maharani suggested that I should give up the judgeship and go to Kashmir as its Prime Minister. I was taken aback at the suggestion. I politely told them that being a permanent judge of the Court I could not resign without the permission of His Majesty. I also put forward other arguments which prevented me from accepting such an office. The young Yuvraj who was about 16 years of age then asked me in an excited voice, “Mahajanji, is the Prime Ministership of Jammu and Kashmir such a small thing that it should be rejected without consideration?” This touched my heart. I said I would think it over and if they later on invited me to come to Kashmir to see His Highness, I would do so. We could then discuss if I was acceptable to His Highness as Prime Minister and whether he was prepared to offer me the post.
A Boundary Commission was appointed in persuance of the Government’s decision to partition India into India and Pakistan. I was invited to sit on the Commission along with my friends, Mr. Justice Teja Singh, Mr. Justice Munir and Mr. Justice Din Mohammad, who was then Chief Justice of the Bhawalpur High Court. I was not inclined to accept the invitation as it seemed to me then that this Commission was a farce and decisions would be taken by the Viceroy himself. Eventually I was persuaded to accept the invitation. General Rees on getting information that I was being selected for the Boundary Commission wrote to me from the United Service Club, Simla: “May I congratulate you on the honour of being selected for the Boundary Commission. I half expected it of course, though I wondered whether you would want yet another burden thrust on your shoulders.
to be continued...