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KALYANSIR:HISTORICALBACKGROUNDOFTHEINDIANCONSTITUTION

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HISTORICALBACKGROUNDOFTHEINDIAN
CONSTITUTION
(InthischapterletusknowwhatexactlyhappenedduringtheBritishrulethatpromptedand
provokedIndianstothinkofaseparateConstitutionforIndia).
TheBritishcametoIndiain1600ADastradersintheformofEastIndiaCompany.
EastIndiaCompanywasalsoknownasEastIndiaTradingCompanyorEnglishEastIndia
Company.
The East India Company was founded in the year 1600 for persuading the trade with East
Indies(SouthAsiaandSouthEastAsia).
ButtheEastIndiaCompanytradedmainlyintheIndiansubcontinentandChina.
TheEastIndiaCompanyhasexclusiverightstotradeinIndia.
Intheyear1765theEastIndiaCompanyobtainedDiwani(Rightsoverrevenueandcivil
justice)ofBengal,BiharandOrissa.
Intheyear1858aftertheSepoymutiny,Britishcrownassumeddirectresponsibilityforthe
governanceofIndia.
ThisrulecontinueduptoAugust15,1947.(Indiagotindependence).

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The above few lines are the very brief

description.
Nowletustrytounderstandmore.
Wewillbelearningwhathappenedbetween
1600and1947.

THECOMPANYRULE(17731858):
AND
THEREGULATINGACTOF1773

ThiswasthefirststeptakenbyBritishGovernmenttocontrolandregulatetheaffairsofEast
IndiaCompanyinIndia.
Thepoliticalandadministrativefunctionsofthecompanywererecognizedforthefirsttime.
ItlaidthefoundationofcentraladministrationinIndia.

FEATURES(CHARACTERISTICS)OF1773ACT:
TheGovernorofBengalwasdesignatedastheGovernorGeneralofBengalandthe
Executivecouncilofthe4memberswascreatedtoassisttheGovernorGeneral.
ThefirstGovernorGeneralofBengalwasLordWarrenHastings.
The1773actmadetheGovernorsofBombayandMadraspresidenciessubordinateto
theGovernorGeneralofBengal.
TheactprovidedfortheestablishmentofSupremeCourtatCalcuttaintheyear1774.
TheSupremeCourtcomprisedofaChiefJusticeand3otherjudges.
Thisactprohibitedtheservantsofthecompanyfromengaginginanyprivatetradeor
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acceptingpresentations(gifts)orbribesfromthenatives(localpeople).
The 1773 act strengthened the control of British government over the company by
requiringthecourttheDirectorstoreportonitsrevenue,civilandmilitaryaffairsin
India.
The1781actofSettlementpassedbytheBritishparliamenttorectifythedefectsof
1773Act.

PITTSINDIAACTOF1784:

ThePittsIndiaactdistinguishedbetweencommercialandpoliticalfunctionsofthe
company.
The Court of Directors entrusted with the responsibility to manage commercial
affairsofthecompany.
TheBoardofcontrolwasentrustedwiththeresponsibilityofpoliticalaffairs.
ThusthePittsIndiaactestablishedthedual(double)government.
ThecompanyterritoriesinIndiawereforthefirsttimecalledBritishpossessionsin
India.

CHARTERACTOF1833

ThisisthefinalsteptowardscentralizationofpowerinIndia.

Whatiscentralization?
Thisistheconcentrationofpowerin
singleauthority.
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TheGovernorGeneralofBengalwasmadetheGovernorGeneralofIndia.
ThefirstGovernorGeneralofIndiawasLordWilliamBentinck.
Thelawsthatweremadepriorto1833werecalledregulation.
Thelawsthatweremadeunder1833charterwerecalledActs.
TheEastIndiaCompanypurelybecametheadministrativebody.
Commercialbody.>Administrativebody.
This act provided for the companys territories in India were held by it in trust for His
Majesty,hisheirsandsuccessors.
Thesuperintendence,directionandcontrolofwholecivilandmilitarygovernmentofallthe
British territories and revenues in India was expressly vested in The Governor General of
IndiainCouncil.
For the first time the GovernorGenerals government was known as the Government of
India.
ThecouncilwasknownasIndianCouncil.
ThecouncilwasenlargedforlegislativeworkbytheadditionofaLawmemberinadditionto
theexistingthree.
Thisactattemptedtointroduceasystemofopencompetitionforselectionofcivilservants.
(Thisisanattemptonlyopencompetitionsystemwasintroducedlater).
Indians were not debarred from holding any place, office and employment under the
company,butnegatedbecauseoftheoppositionfromthecourtofdirectors.

CHARTERACTOF1853:

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This was the last charter act passed by the British Parliament between 1793 and
1853.
ThisactcreatedtheLegislativecouncil.
ThelegislativecouncilfunctionedasaminiParliament.
TheCharter Act of 1853 introduced Open competition system of selection and
recruitmentofcivilservants.
ThiswasalsoopentoIndians.(Indianswerepermittedtotakepartinthecompetitive
examination).
Accordingly Macaulay Committee (Committee on the Indian civil services) was
appointedintheyear1854.
SatyendraNathTagorewasthefirstIndiantojointhecivilservices.

THECROWNRULE(18581947)
THEGOVERNMENTOFINDIAACT1858
ThiscameintobeingaftertheSepoyMutinyof1857.

Regarding the Sepoy Mutiny we learn more

duringIndianHistorydiscussion.
ThisactisalsoknownastheActforgoodgovernmentinIndia.
ThisisthefirststatuteenactedbytheParliamentforthegovernanceofIndiaunderthedirect
ruleoftheBritishgovernment.
TheGOIActabolishedtheEastIndiaCompany.
TheBritishcrownassumedsovereigntyoverIndiafromtheEastIndiaCompany.
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ThedesignationofGovernorGeneralofIndiawaschangedtotheViceroyofIndia.
ThelastGovernorGeneralofIndiawasLordCanning.
ThefirstViceroyofIndiawasLordCanning.
TheGOIactabolishedtheBoardofControlandCourtofDirectors.
AnewpositioncalledSecretaryofStateforIndiawascreatedandthepowersofthecrown
wereexercisedbytheSecretaryofStateforIndia.
The Secretary of state for India is a member of Cabinet and is responsible to the British
Parliament.
The Secretary of state for India was assisted by a council called Council of India that
contained15members.
TheCouncilofIndiawascomposedofexclusivelyofpeoplefromEngland.
ThesecretaryofstateofIndiawhowasresponsibletotheBritishParliamentgovernedIndia
through the GovernorGeneral, assisted by an executive council which consisted of higher
officialsofthegovernment.
Theadministrationofthecountrywasunitaryandrigidlycentralizedthrough1858Act.
TheprovincialgovernmentsthoughexistingheadedbyaGovernorweremeretheagentsof
theGovernmentofIndiaandfunctionedunderthedirectcontroloftheGovernorGeneral.
Therewasnoseparationoffunctions.Thelegislative,executive,civilandmilitaryauthority
wasvestedinGovernorGeneralincouncilofIndiawhowasresponsibletothesecretaryof
stateforIndia.
The control of the secretary of state of India over the Indian administration was absolute
(complete,total).
Themachineryoftheadministrationwastotallyunconcernedaboutthepublicopinion.
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INDIANCOUNCILSACTOF1861:
Thisactintroducedagrainofpopularelementbyincludingsomenonofficialmembersinthe
executivecouncilwhiletransactinglegislativebusinesslikelegislativecouncil.
TheViceroyofIndiawouldnominateIndianstothelegislativecouncil.
Thefunctionsofnominatedmemberswereconfinedexclusivelytotheconsiderationofthe
legislativeproposalsplacedbeforeitbytheGovernorGeneral(Viceroy).
Even in the provinces for initiating legislations the prior sanction of the GovernorGeneral
(Viceroy)wasnecessary.
In the year 1862 Lord Canning (first Viceroy of India) nominated Raja of Benaras, the
MaharajaofPatialaandSirDinakarRaotothelegislativecouncil.
ThisactrestoredthepowersofBombayandBengalpresidencies.
TheLegislativeCouncilforBengalwascreatedintheyear1862.
TheLegislativecouncilforNWFP(NorthWestFrontierProvince)wascreatedintheyear
1866.

NWFPisinpresentdayPakistanandthenameischangedto
KhyberPakhtoonkhwa.

TheLegislativeCouncilforPunjabwascreatedintheyear1897.
This act gave recognition to the portfolio system. (Portfolio system means placing each
memberinchargeofaspecificdepartment).
LordcanningintroducedPortfoliosystemintheyear1859.
ThisactalsoempoweredtheViceroytoissueordinances.
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WhatisOrdinance?WelearnduringthediscussionofthePresidentofIndia.

1892ACT:(THEINDIANCOUNCILSACT)
This act gave the legislative councils the power of discussing the budget and addressing
questionstotheexecutive.
This act also provided for the nomination of some nonofficial members to the legislative
councilsbytheViceroy.
IndianCouncilsACTof1909(MORLEYMINTOREFORMS):

MintowasthethenViceroy.
MorleywasthethenSecretaryofState.
This act increased the size of legislative councils by including elected nonofficial
members.
An element of election was introduced at the central legislative council but the
officialmajoritywasmaintained.
Themembersofthelegislativecouncilwereallowedtoasksupplementaryquestions.
Thememberswereallowedtomovetheresolutionsonbudgetoronanymatterof
publicinterestexceptsubjectslikearmedforces,ForeignaffairsandIndianstates.
ThisactprovidedtheassociationofIndianswithexecutivecounciloftheviceroyand
theGovernor.
The first Indian to join the Viceroys Executive council was Satyendra Prasad
Sinha.
The 1909 act introduced a system of communal representation for Muslims by
acceptingtheconceptofSeparateElectorate.
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Under the Separate Electorate the Muslim members were to be elected only by
Muslimvoters.
Forthe1sttimetheseedsofseparatismweresown.
The1909actlegalizedcommunalism.
MintowasregardedastheFatherofCommunalElectorate.
TheMintoMorleyreformsdidnotaimatestablishingaparliamentarysystemofthe
government.
The final decision on all matters was retained in the hands of the irresponsible
executive.

THEGOVERNMENTOFINDIAACT,1919
This act came into picture when the Indian National Congress became very active
duringthe1stWorldwarandlaunchedtheHomeRulemovement.
ThisisalsocalledMontagueChelmsfordreforms.
ChelmsfordwasthethenViceroy.
MontaguewasthethenSecretaryofstate.
OnAugust20,1917theBritishGovernmentmadeadeclarationthatthepolicyofHis
MajestysGovernmentisthatofincreasingassociationofIndiansineverybranchof
administration and the gradual development of selfgoverning of institutions with a
view to progressive realization of responsible government in British India as an
integralpartoftheBritishempire.
MontaguChelmsfordwereentrustedwiththeresponsibilityofformulatingproposals
forthesaidpolicyandtheGOIAct,1919gaveaformalshapetothesame.
ThereportofMontagueChelmsfordledtotheenactmentofGOIof1919.
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TheGOIAct1919introduceddiarchyordualgovernment.
Thediarchywasintroducedattheprovincesandnotatthecentre.
Thisactdemarcatedthecentralandprovincialsubjects.
The provincial subjects were further divided into transferred subjects and reserved
subjects.
Transferred subjects are those subjects that are administered by the Governor with
theaidofministersandresponsibletotheLegislativeCouncilinwhichtheproportion
ofelectedmemberswasraisedto70percent.
Hence, the foundation of responsible government was introduced in the narrow
sphereintheformoftransferredsubjects.
ThereservedsubjectsontheotherhandweretobeadministeredbytheGovernorand
hisexecutivecouncilwithoutanyresponsibilitytotheLegislature.
Thesourceofrevenuewasalsodividedinto2categories,sothattheprovincescould
runtheadministrationwiththeaidofrevenueraisedbytheprovincesbythemselves.
ProvincialbudgetwasseparatedfromtheCentralbudget.
ThecontroloftheGovernorGeneraloverprovinceswasretainedbyempoweringthe
GovernortoreservethebillfortheconsiderationoftheGovernorGeneral.
Through the GOI Act of 1919 bicameralism (two houses i.e. Upper and Lower
House)wasintroducedatthecentre.
TheUpperHousewascalledCouncilofstatecomposedof60membersofwhom34
wereelected.
The lower House was called Legislative Assembly composed of 144 members of
whom104wereelected.

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ThepowersofboththeUpperandLowerHouseswereequalexceptthatthepowerto
votesupply(budget)wasgivenonlytotheLowerHouse.
Theconceptofelectionswasintroduced.
The Indian Legislative council consists of the Upper House (Council of State) and
theLowerhouse(LegislativeAssembly).
Themajorityofthemembersfromboththehousesareelecteddirectly.
The act of 1919 extended communal representation for Sikhs, Indian Christians,
Europeans and AngloIndians. (Remember the 1909 act introduced communal
representation only for Muslims and not for all communities). (These are the
questionsthatareaskedintheexamination,readcarefully).
ThisactprovidedfortheestablishmentofPublicServiceCommission.
AccordinglythePublicServiceCommissionwassetupforrecruitingCivilServants.
Theactof1919alsoprovidedfortheseparationofprovincialbudgetfromthecentral
Budget.(Provincemeansasmallerarea,justlikeapresentdaystate.Todaywehave2
budgetsinthecountry,centralandstatebudgets,thisstartedwiththe1919Actand
evenafterthecommencementoftheConstitutionwecontinuedwiththesame).
The1919reformsfailedtofulfilltheaspirationsofthepeopleinIndiaandthisledto
SwarajorSelfgovernmentagitationundertheleadershipofMahatmaGandhi.
In the year 1927 a statutory commission was appointed under the chairmanship of
Simontoinquireintoandreportontheworkingofthe1919Act.

SIMONCOMMISSION:

The Simon Commission was appointed by the British Government in November

1927.
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Thiswasa7memberCommission.
TheChairmanoftheCommissionwasSirJohnSimon.
ThepurposeofthecommissionwastoreportontheconditionofIndiaunderthe
newconstitution(GOI1919).
AllthemembersofthecommitteewereBritish.
HenceallthepartiesboycottedtheCommission.
TheSimonCommissionsubmittedthereportintheyear1930.
TheSimonCommissionrecommendedfortheabolitionofdiarchy.
Thiscommissionalsorecommendedforthecontinuationofcommunalelectorate.
The British government convened three round table conferences to consider the
proposalsofSimonCommission.
The conferences to be attended by the representatives of British Government,
British India and Indian princely states. (Regarding the round table conferences
welearnmoreduringthestudyofNationalMovement).
Thethreeroundstableconferencesheldbetween1930and1932.
MahatmaGandhiattendedthesecondroundtableconferenceonly.
On the basis of these discussions a white paper on constitutional reforms was
preparedandthesamewassubmittedtotheParliament.
TherecommendationswereincorporatedintheGOIActof1935.

COMMUNALAWARDOF1932:
OnAugust4,1932thecommunalawardwasannouncedbyRamsayMacDonald
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(ThethenBritishPrimeMinister).
ThisismeantforprovidingextendingseparateelectoratetoScheduledCastes.
In fact the concept of separate electorate for depresses classes was raised by Dr.
B.R.Ambedkar.
TheproposalwasacceptedbytheBritishandannouncedtheCommunalaward.
GandhiopposedthisonthegroundsthatthisproposalwoulddisintegratetheHindu
society.
Mahatma Gandhi began indefinite hunger strike in Yeravada jail (Pune,
Maharashtra)againsttheseparateelectorateforScheduledCastes.

POONAPACTOF1932:
AsMahatmaGandhiwentontohungerstrikeDrAmbedkarwasundertremendous
pressuretosavethelifeGandhi.
HenceDr.Ambedkaracceptedforanagreement.
ThisisanagreementbetweentheDalits(Thencalleddepressedclasses)ofIndia
ledbyDr.B.R.AmdedkarandtheuppercasteHindusofIndia.
ThistookplaceonSeptember24,1932atYeravadajail.
UnderPoonapactof1932thereshallbeseatsreservedforthedepressedclassesout
ofgeneralelectoralseatsintheprovinciallegislature.

GOVERNMENTOFINDIAACTOF1935:
TheGOIAct1935prescribedaFederation.
TheGOIact1935dividedthepowersinto
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FederalList(59)
ProvincialList(54)
ConcurrentList(36)
TheresiduarypowerswerevestedwiththeViceroy.
TheGOIactof1935abolishedthediarchyinprovinces.
TheGOIactof1935providedthediarchyatthecentre.(Thisdidnotcomeinto
operation).
Theresponsiblegovernmentwasintroducedinprovinces.TheExecutiveauthority
oftheprovincewasalsoexercisedbytheGovernoronbehalfofthecrownandnot
asasubordinateoftheGovernorGeneral.
TheGOIactof1935introducedbicameralism(2house,Upperandlower)in6out
of11provinces.ThiswasLegislativeAssemblyandtheLegislativeCouncil.
Intherestoftheprovincesthelegislaturewasunicameral.
This act extended separate electorate for depressed classes (SCs), Women and
labor.
Thisactextendedthefranchise(Righttovote).Withthis10%ofthepopulation
gotthevotingright.
The GOI 1935 granted limited franchise on the basis of tax, property and
education.
The GOI act of 1935 provided for the establishment of Reserve Bank of India
(RBI)intheyear1935.

Establishment of RBI was recommended by

HiltonYoungCommissionintheyear1926.

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The RBI in the year 1935 was set up at

Calcutta(Kolkata).
Intheyear1937RBIwasshiftedtoBombay
(Mumbai).

TheGOIactof1935providedfortheestablishmentofProvincialandJointPublic
ServiceCommission.
TheGOIactalsoprovidedfortheestablishmentofFederalCourt.
Today'sQuestion ClickHere

TheFederalCourtwassetupintheyear1937inDelhi.
TheseatoftheFederalcourtwastheChamberofPrincesintheParliament
buildinginDelhi.
ThefirstChiefJusticeoftheFederalCourtwasMauriceGwyer.
(Note:ThepresentSupremeCourtwasestablishedonJanuary28,1950).
INDIANINDEPENDENCEACTOF1947:
OnFebruary20,1947thePrimeMinisterofEnglandSirClementAtleedeclared
thattheBritishruleinIndiawouldendbyJune30,1948.
TheMuslimLeaguedemandedforthepartition.
OnJune3,1947thegovernmentannouncedthattheconstitutionisnotapplicable
tounwillingpartsofthenation.
LordMountBatten(thenViceroy)putforththepartitionplanonthesameday.Itis
calledMountbattenplan.(ThisisalsocalledJune3plan).
ThisplanwasacceptedbybothcongressandMuslimleague.
TheIndianIndependenceActof1947endedtheBritishruleanddeclaredIndiaas
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anindependentandsovereignstatefromAugust15,1947.
ThisactprovidedforthepartitionofthecountryintoIndiaandPakistan.
The office of Viceroy was abolished and provided for the GovernorGeneral for
eachdominion(IndiaandPakistan)appointedbytheking.
This act also empowered the constituent assemblies to frame and adopt any
constitution.
The Central legislature of India composed of the legislative assembly and the
councilofstatesceasedtoexistonAugust14,1947.
TheIndianIndependenceActgrantedfreedomtotheprincelystateseithertojoin
IndiaorPakistanortoremainindependent.
Thecivilservantswereallowedtoentitleallthebenefits.
LordMountbattenbecamethefirstGovernorGeneralofindependentIndia.
JawaharlalNehruwassworninasthefirstPrimeMinisterofIndiabyLordMount
Batten.
MuhammadAliJinnahbecamethefirstGovernorGeneralofPakistan.

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Jointhediscussion
LaxminarayanYadav 2yearsago

sir,
kindlyguidemehowtowriteaneffectiveanswerwithoutvomitinganycrapthingsinexams..
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