Timeline of Indian constitution Part -1

By  the middle of nineteenth Century most of India was controlled by the British, either directly by the East India Company or through the system of treaties and alliances with the Princely States. During this period certain measures of constitutional reforms were introduced. During the reign of Warren Hastings, the Regulating Act (1773) and Pitts India Act (1784) were passed.

Regulating Act (1773):  The Regulating Act initiated the process of centralization in India.

By 1773 the East India Company was in dire financial straits and asked for assistance from the British Government. Faced with corruption and nepotism amongst the company officials in India, the British Government enacted the Regulating Act in 1773 to control the activities of the Company

1. The Governor of Bengal was made the Governor General. The first man to be appointed to this post was Warren Hastings
.
2. For the assistance of the Governor General an executive Council of four members was created.

3.A Supreme Court was set up at Calcutta, with a Chief Justice and three assistant judges.

4. The number of the Directors of the Company was fixed at 24.

Pitt India act  ( 1784) : the real power in India passed from the Directors of the Company to the British Parliament.

Failure of Regulation act ( 1773) , British government decided to take a more active role in the affairs of the Company.

1. A Board was established with six members, two of who were the members of British Cabinet and four were of Privy Council.

2,The President of the Board soon became the Minister for the affairs of the East India Company. The Board had all the powers to control the civil, military and revenue related affairs of the company.

The Government of India Act 1858 : The full power shift to British parliament from east India company .

1.The Company's territories in India were to be vested in the Queen, the Company ceasing to exercise its power and control over these territories. India was to be governed in the Queen's name.

2.The Crown was empowered to appoint a Governor-General and the Governors of the Presidencies.

 3.Provision for the creation of an Indian Civil Service under the control of the Secretary of State.

 4. All the property of the East India Company was transferred to the Crown. The Crown also assumed the responsibilities of the Company as they related to treaties, contracts, and so forth.^[3]

the Indian Councils Act of 1861 : It has created decentralization system of administration in India.

1.The Governor-General had the right of increasing the strength of the Council by adding not less than 6 and not more than 12 members.
2.They were to be nominated by him for purposes of legislation. Half of the additional members were to be non-officials and were to hold office for two years.
3.The function of the Council was strictly limited to legislation. The Act forebaded the transactions of any other business.

4.Apart from this he was given the power to appoint Lieutenant Governors. The Act provided for issuance of Ordinances by the Governor and it could remain in force for a maximum of 6 months.

Indian Councils Act of 1892 : Entry for Indian in process (1^st time )

The Indian National Congress expressed its dissatisfaction over the inadequate representation which the Legislative Councils Act of 1861 gave to the Indian people.

1. The number of the non-official members, in the Central and Provincial Legislative Councils was increased. However, the official members were still in majority.

2.non official member in central council nominated by Bengal chamber of commerce and in state it was nominated by university, district boards etc

3.the council had power to discuss annual statement , revenue , expenditure etc.

4.Gopal Krishna gokhale , ashutosh mukharjee, Ras bihari bose  and S.N. banergee found their way in legislative consuil

The Indian Council Act of 1909  (Morley-Minto Reforms) :-            
(a)  separate representation ( hindu, muslim )
(b) Majority of non official first time

In 1905 there had been an outbreak of violence in India after the province of Bengal had been divided into two by the Viceroy Lord Curzon. There was a massive petition and boycott of British goods.

In 1906 Congress demanded Home Rule for the first time.

John Morley was a member of the Liberal governments from 1906 to 1914. The Liberals were ready to make changes in India while the Conservatives had not been.

1.The number of members of the Imperial Legislative Council was increased to 60 and 27 were to be elected.

2.Indians were allowed to sit on the Imperial Legislative Council for the first time.

3.Direct elections for seats on provincial legislative councils were introduced. Some now had a majority of elected .members. This gave Indians a much greater voice in Provincial governments.

4.Muslim organizations campaigned for special representation of Muslim interests, which led to separate representation for Muslims and other minority groups.

5.There were six Muslim representatives on the Imperial Legislative Council, as well as others on some provincial councils. This was the first time that specific representation was given to ‘communal’ or religious groups.

 

Part 2 will include :-

1.Government of India Act of 1919

2.Government of India Act of 1935

3.Indian independence act 1947

4.The Cripps Mission

5.The Cabinet Mission Plan: