States Reorganisation Act, 1956
An Act to provide for the reorganisation of the States of India and for matters connected therewith.
Chapter I: Preliminary
Chapter II: Territorial Changes and Formation of New States
- 3 Transfer of territory from Hyderabad to Andhra and alteration of name
- 4 Transfer of territory from Travancore-Cochin to Madras
- 5 Formation of Kerala State 7 judgments
- 6 Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands
- 7 Formation of a new Mysore State
- 8 Formation of a new Bombay State
- 9 Formation of a new Madhya Pradesh State
- 10 Formation of a new Rajasthan State
- 11 Formation of a new Punjab State
- 12 Amendment of the First Schedule to the Constitution
- 13 Saving powers of State Governments
Chapter III: Zones and Zonal Councils
Chapter IV: Representation in the Legislatures
The Council of States
- 23 Amendment of the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution
- 24 Allocation of sitting members in the Council of States
- 25 By-elections to fill vacancies
- 26 Term of office of members
The House of the People
The Legislative Assembly
- 28 Changes in composition and allocation of sitting members
- 29 Special provision for elections to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
- 30 Duration of Legislative Assemblies
- 31 Speakers and Deputy Speakers
- 32 Rules of procedure
The Legislative Councils
- 33 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Council
- 34 Bombay Legislative Council
- 35 Madras Legislative Council
- 36 Mysore Legislative Council
- 37 Punjab Legislative Council
- 38 Chairman and Deputy Chairman
- 39 Rules of procedure
Delimitation of Constituencies
- 40 Allocation of seats in the House of the People and assignment of seats to State Legislative Assemblies
- 41 Modification of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders
- 42 Determination of population of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
- 43 Constitution of Delimitation Commission
- 44 Duties of the Commission
- 45 Associate members
- 46 Casual vacancies
- 47 Procedure as to delimitation
- 48 Special provision as to certain elections
Chapter V: High Courts
- 49 High Courts for the new States 1 judgment
- 50 Abolition of certain Courts
- 51 Principal seat and other places of sitting of High Courts for new States 4 judgments
- 52 Jurisdiction of High Courts for new States 1 judgment
- 53 Power to enrol advocates, etc
- 54 Practice and procedure 2 judgments
- 55 Custody of seal of the High Court
- 56 Form of writs and other processes
- 57 Powers of Judges 1 judgment
- 58 Procedure as to appeals to the Supreme Court
- 59 Transfer of proceedings to Bombay High Court
- 60 Extension of jurisdiction of, and transfer of proceedings to, Kerala High Court
- 61 Transfer of proceedings to Madhya Pradesh High Court
- 62 Transfer of proceedings to Mysore High Court
- 63 Transfer of proceedings to Punjab High Court
- 64 Transfer of proceedings to Rajasthan High Court
- 65 High Court of Andhra Pradesh
- 66 High Court for the areas added to Madras
- 67 Right to appear or act in proceedings transferred to other High Courts
- 68 Interpretation
- 69 Savings
Chapter VI: Authorisation of Expenditure
Chapter VII: Apportionment of Assets and Liabilities of Certain Part A and Part B States
- 75 Application of Part
- 76 Land and goods
- 77 Treasury and bank balances
- 78 Arrears of taxes
- 79 Right to recover loans and advances
- 80 Credits in certain funds
- 81 Assets and liabilities of State undertakings
- 82 Public debt
- 83 Refund of taxes collected in excess
- 84 Deposits
- 85 Provident funds
- 86 Pensions
- 87 Contracts
- 88 Liability in respect of actionable wrong
- 89 Liability as guarantor of co-operative society
- 90 Items in suspense
- 91 Residuary provision
- 92 Power of the Central Government to order allocation or adjustment in certain cases
- 93 Certain expenditure to be charged on the Consolidated Fund
Chapter VIII: Apportionment of Certain Assets and Liabilities of the Union
Chapter IX: Provisions As to Certain Corporations and Inter-State Agreements and Arrangements
- 102 Provision as to certain State Financial Corporations
- 103 Provisions as to the Madras Industrial Investment Corporation
- 104 Amendment of Act 2 of 1934
- 105 Amendment of Act 6 of 1942
- 106 Provision as to certain State Electricity Boards and apportionment of their assets and liabilities
- 107 Continuance of arrangements in regard to generation and supply of electric power and supply of water
- 108 Continuance of agreements and arrangements relating to certain irrigation, power or multi- purpose projects 1 judgment
- 109 General provision as to statutory corporations 1 judgment
- 110 Temporary provisions as to the continuance of certain existing road transport permits
- 111 Special provision relating to retrenchment compensation in certain cases
- 112 Provision as to the Devaswom Surplus Fund of Travancore
- 113 Continuance of facilities in certain State institutions 1 judgment
Chapter X: Provisions As to Services
Chapter XI: Legal and Miscellaneous Provisions
- 119 Territorial extent of laws 2 judgments
- 120 Power to adapt laws
- 121 Power to construe laws
- 122 Power to name authorities, etc., for exercising statutory functions
- 123 Legal proceedings
- 124 Right of pleaders to practise in certain Courts
- 125 Provisions as to certain pending proceedings
- 126 Repealed 2 judgments
- 127 Effect of the provisions of the Act inconsistent with other laws
- 128 Power to remove difficulties
- 129 Power to make rules
- 130 Repeal of Act 49 of 1951 1 judgment
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.