The Princely State of Kirli, also known as Kirali or Kiril, was one of the well known princely states of India that was administered by a native prince under the guidance of the British authorities. The princely state was under the indirect control of the British Empire in India. The region covered a total area of 21 sq miles and comprised of a total population of 1,460 in the year 1941. After the final settlement of the status of the Dangs in the year 1888, Kirli state included 6 villages. The princely state of Kirli was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was a sub division of Western India States Agency. The state of Kirli later became a part of the Indian state of Gujarat. The native ruler or Naik of the princely state of Kiril was a Bhil.
The native rulers of the princely state did not participate in the administration due to their incapability to supervise and rule. The rulers were primarily Kokani and Bhil tribals and lacked adequate education. The jurisdictional powers of the princely state of Kirli were exercised by the Resident of British India, also known as Political Agents of the British East India Company, on behalf of the native rulers. The British Resident was a senior official of the British administration, who was positioned in the capital of the Princely States of India, to conduct consular duties as well as liaison functions. He was a government official who took up residence in a princely state and conducted several official diplomatic functions that aided in the British indirect rule. He was also responsible for making the ruler to sustain the association and alliance. The native rulers of Kirli state, who held the title of Naik, retained some revenue rights over their own territories as well as certain customary rights of settling disputes.
The rulers or Naik of Kirli and the headmen of the villages, holding the title of Patel, who were around 300 to 400 in number, met with the British resident, or in his absence, with the Civil Administrator, in Darbar 3 to 4 times annually. The claims of Baroda to economic rights in the Dangs were renewed into a fixed annual payment. All the rulers and other chiefs also received a pension from the British Government of India.
After the independence of India in the year 1947, the princely state of Kirli was acceded to the newly formed Union of India, which was also known as Dominion of India.
