Important Land Marks in the Constitutional Development of India
Pitt’s India Act, 1784—It was passed to bring the affairs of the Company under the control of the British Parliament.
Transfer of the Administration of India to the Crown—Soon after the First War of Indian Independence (1857), the Act of 1858 was passed to transfer the rule of the East India Company to the Crown. Henceforth India was to be governed directly in the name of the Crown by the Secretary of State for India through a Council called the India Council. The Secretary of State was a member of the British Cabinet. The Governor-General of India now received the additional title of Viceroy.
Indian Councils Act, 1861—According to this Act non-official Indians were taken in the Executive Council and the Legislative Councils were enlarged. Portfolio system was introduced for the first time.
Indian National Congress, 1885—The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume. The main purpose was to deal with the Indian demands and aspirations through an effective channel. The first session was presided over by W.C. Bannerjee at Bombay.
Indian Councils Act, 1892—It enlarged both the Imperial and Provincial Legislative Councils and increased the proportion of nonofficials and Indian members. The principle of election was introduced. The members could ask questions but not supplementary ones. They had a right to discuss the budget, but they were not given the right of vote over the budget.
Indian Councils Act, 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms)—The Imperial Legislative Council was further enlarged providing for sixty members; the membership of Provincial Legislative Councils was doubled. The membership of the Executive Councils of Madras and Bombay also increased from 2 to 4. This Act conceded separate electorates to Muslims, thus inducting communalism in the political life of India.
Government of India Act, 1919 (Montague-Chelmsford Reforms)—It decentralized Indian administration to a great extent. Dyarchy was introduced in the Provinces. A bicameral legislature was set up at the centre :
(1) Lower House—Central Legislative Assembly consisting of 140 members
(2) Upper House—Council of States consisting of 60 members.
Simon Commission (1928)—The Simon Commission was appointed by the British Government to review the working of dyarchy and to suggest measures for further reforms. Its visit was boycotted by all shades of Indian opinion (because it did not include even a single Indian). It recommended the abolition of dyarchy, the establishment of Provincial Autonomy and some sort of Federal Government for the whole of India.
Government of India Act (1935)—This Act sought to introduce provincial Autonomy and establish an All India Federation. Provincial Autonomy was inaugurated in provinces in 1937, but the central part of the Act could not be enforced owing to the unwillingness of certain Provinces and rulers of Indian princely States to join the federation. Burma was separated from India. Congress ministries were installed in 1937, but they resigned following the break out of Second World War when England declared India also as a belligerent nation without consulting the Indian Leaders.
Cripps Mission (1942)—The British declaration of India as a belligerent nation in the Second World War without consulting the Indians touched off a new wave of resentment among the Indians. When the war was in its hottest phase, a realization dawned in 1942, upon the British Government that they could not ignore the Indian problem any further. They, therefore, sent Mr. Cripps to India on March 22, 1942 to resolve the constitutional problem of India. The proposals put forward by Mr. Cripps were not accepted by the Indians. Following the failure of these proposals, the Indians under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi decided to intensify their struggle to force the British to quit India.
Quit-India Movement (1942)—Quit-India Movement started on Aug. 9, 1942 following the passage of Quit-India Resolution by A.I.C.C. in Bombay on Aug. 8, 1942. The Movement took a violent turn. The Government suppressed it by arresting important leaders including Mahatma Gandhi.
The Mountbatten Plan (1947)—The Mountbatten Plan of June 3, 1947 laid down detailed principles of the partition of India and the speedy transfer of political power in the form of Dominion Status to the newly born Dominions of India and Pakistan.
Indian Independence Act, 1947—The Act incorporated the Mountbatten Plan of June 3, 1947. On the 15th August, 1947 India achieved independence and Pakistan was created as a separate Dominion on August 14, 1947.
0 Comments