1919 act
- 1. 1919 Indian Councils Act or Montague-Chelmsford Reforms
- 2. • In order to achieve responsible government it was necessary to provide for the increasing association of the Indians in every branch of administration and the gradual development of self governing Institutions. • The Act made many changes in the administration of India. 1. The secretary of state for Indian was paid out of the Indian revenues. It was now provided that the future he would be paid out of British revenues. 2. Some of the functions of the secretary of state for India were taken away from him and given to a High Commissioner for India who was to be appointed and paid by the government of India.
- 3. 3. The High Commissioner was to act as the agent of the Governor General in Council. 4. The control of the secretary of state was reduced in the provincial sphere insofar as the transferred department were concerned. 5. The Act setup bicameral Legislature at the centre in place of the Imperial legislature Council consisting of one house. The names of the two houses were the two Houses were the Central Legislative Assembly Council of State.
- 4. Council of State Central Legislative Assembly 5 years 3 years 60 members 145 Members 33 elected +27 Nominated 103 Elected + 42 Nominated Out of 103 elected communal constituencies 30 for Muslims 2 for Sikhs 7 for landholders 9 for Europeans 4 for Indian Commerce
- 5. The first speaker of the Central Assembly was nominated by the Government but subsequent speakers were elected by the members of the central Assembly. Government decided to conduct direct lections for both the Houses. Voters for Council of State: In the council of State voter were assessed either to income tax or land revenue of Rs.750 to Rs.5000 In addition, those how had previous experience in public work or who were recognized as men of high scholarship or academic enrolled on the election roll of general constancies for the Council of State.
- 6. Voters for Central Legislative Assembly The qualification of the voter for Central Assembly was either the payment of Municipal taxes amounting to not less than Rs. 15-20 per annum. Or Ownership of a house of an annual income of not less than Rs. 3000 to 5000. Or Assessment of land revenue for Rs. 50 to 150 per annum. The total number of voter for Council of state was about 17,343. For Central Assembly about 9,09,874 in 1920
- 7. Powers of Two Houses It could make laws for the whole of British India for the subjects of His Majesty and service of crown in any part of India. The Central Legislature had no power to amend or repeal any parliamentary statues relating to British India. Governor General Powers • G.G was given to the power to summon, prorogue and dissolve to two Houses. • He had given the right to address the members of the two Houses.
- 8. • G. G was given the powers to extent laws which he considered essential for the safety and interests of British India, if either Houses refused or failed to pass them. • In case of emergency he could release ordinance for the peace and quite government of British India. • Governor General had veto power and it was exercised on many times. • The Crown had the power to disallowing any Act made by the Indian legislation or the Governor General.
- 9. Powers of the members The members of both the Houses they could ask questions and supplementary questions, moving resolutions and of introducing projects of legislature according to rules. The members were given the right of freedom of speech in the two Houses.
- 10. • The Act provided for two lists of Subjects: Central List and Provincial list Central list Provincial list Defense Local-Self Governments Posts and Telegraphs Public Health and Sanitation Patents and copyright Education Currency and Coinage Public Works Communication Water supply and Irrigation Commerce and shipping Land revenue administration Civil and criminal law and procedure Famine relief Agriculture Cooperative Societies Law and order
- 11. Provincial Legislative Councils Provincial 70% of the members of the Provincial Legislatures were elected, about 30 % of the were nominated by the Governor. Some of the nominated members were official and others were non-officials. The life time of the Council was three years but it could be dissolved earlier by the Governor who could also extend its life. Members were given the right of asking questions and supplementary questions. They could reject the Budget but the Governor was authorized to restore it the same was considered to be necessary.
- 12. Transferred and Reserved Subjects. Reserved Subjects were administered by the Governor with help of the Executive Council and the transferred subjects were dealt with by the Governor with help of his ministers. Members of the Executive Council were nominated by the Governor, the ministers were chosen by the Governor from the members of the legislature
- 13. Reserved Subjects Transferred Subjects Administration of Justice Local self Government Police Irrigation and canals Public works , roads, bridges , municipal roads. Drainage Public heath Water storage and agricultural loans Sanitation and medical administration Famine relief Control of new papers Books and printing press Prisons and reformatories Forests Factory inspection Settlements of labor disputes Industrial insurance and housing Development of Industries including Industrial Research Finance
- 14. The system of diarchy was worked in the provinces from 1921 to 1937, but experience shows that it did not work satisfactory many factors were responsible for its failure. The division of the department or subjects were not properly distributed. No cooperation between the two halves of the Provincial administration. Some times the ministers and Executive Councils condemned each other in public. The ministers were the representatives of the people, while members of Executive Council belonged to the officials.
- 15. • Non-cooperation between minister's and Executive council led to so many disturbances in administration. • Generally, Governor backed the members of the Executive Council. • Minister was responsible to the Legislative for the administration of his department. • He could be turned out by the legislature by a vote of no- confidence.
- 16. • The position of the permanent service created many difficulties. • The appointment, salary, suspension, dismissal and transfer of the member of All India Service was under the control of the Secretary of State for India. • Those All India Service officers also appointed the transferred departments and did not care for ministers. • Ministers had no power to choose their own subordinates. • Ministers were not in a position to implement their own views and plans in the department.
- 17. • According to the rules of Executive business, cases in which the Minister differed from the opinion of the permanent Secretary or the Head of the department, had to submitted Governor for final orders. • Both the Secretary and the Head of the Department had a weekly interview with the Governor and could discuss every thing about his department. • Sometimes the Governor knew more things about the a department than the concerned minister. • The department finance in the hands of the members of the Executive Council. • All the nation-building department were given to the ministers but they were given no money for the same.
- 18. • Finance Secretary had no sympathy with the aspirations of the Indians as represented by ministers. • In certain cases, the finance department refused even to examine any scheme proposed by ministers.