The Government of India Act 1909

 

 

The Government of India Act 1909

(Morley Minto Reforms)

The year 1909 was very important as far as the Constitutional or Legal development and history of modern India was concerned. In 1909  John Morley, the then Secretary of State for India and Lord Minto, the then Viceroy of India announced certain constitutional reforms for India. These reforms are known as Morley-Minto reforms of 1909 or the Indian Councils Act of 1909.

Some of the provisions of the Indian Councils Act of 1909 were as following:

Increase in the number of non-official or elected members in provincial and central legislative councils

In Governor General’s Council or Imperial Legislative Council the number of official members i.e. the ones appointed by the Governor General or Viceroy was more than that of unofficial members

The members of Imperial Legislative Council and Provincial Legislative Councils were categorised into- Ex-officio members, nominated official members, nominated non-official members and elected members.

In the category of elected members Indians mostly got the chance to enter the councils.

Indian members came to be appointed as the members of Executive Council of the Governor General. Indians also got an opportunity to be nominated as the members of the Secretary of State for India’s Council.

It made the provision of separate electorates for Muslims.

Provision of electing members from chambers of commerce, zamindars, universities, etc. was introduced.

The members could discuss and ask questions on different areas including budget.

The Government of India Act 1919 (Montague Chelmsford Reforms)

The Government of India Act 1919 is also known as the Montague Chelmsford Reforms. Lord Montague was the Secretary of State for India at that point of time and Lord Chelmsford was the then Governor General of India.

The highlights of the Government of India Act 1919 were as following:

The salary of Secretary of State for India came to be paid from British treasury. Earlier it was paid from the revenue generated in India

The powers of Secretary of State for India at province level were reduced

The number of Indians in Governor General’s was increased

The subjects were divided into Central and Provincial lists

The Indian members of Governor General’s Executive Council were given less important departments

At Centre the two houses of legislature were introduced viz. Council of State and Central Legislative Assembly

Government of India Act 1935

 Some of the important changes brought by the Government of India Act 1935 were as following:

All India Federation consisting provinces under the control of British and Indian princely states

Provinces were given more autonomy

The powers were divided between the Centre and the provinces by way of introducing federal list, provincial list and concurrent list

Dyarchy at Central level was introduced and that of Provincial level abolished

The Central legislature was divided into two houses i.e. upper house and lower house

India Council was abolished

The provision of Federal Court, Reserve Bank of India, Federal Service Commission, Provincial Service Commissions, Joint Public Service Commission and Federal Railway Authority was made

The Above mentioned three Acts i.e. Government of India Act 1909, Government of India Act 1919 and Government of India Act 1935 are considered as important steps in the constitutional or legal history of India.