AKSHAY S KRISHNAVNIT NAGPUR

INDIAN CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

- HISTORICAL BACKGROUND -

LONG AGO…..

The British came as traders in 1600s wearing the masks of East India company with the supporting document-a charter granted by Queen Elizabeth

In 1765,they obtained ‘diwani’ (rights over revenue and civil justice) of Bengal,Bihar and Orissa

In 1858,British crown assumed direct governance(remember sepoy mutiny? )

Regulating act (1773 ) ‘Governor’ of Bengal was designated as

‘Governor-General’ and four membered executive council was formed.

Lord Warren Hastings was the first G-G Made governors of Bombay and Madras

presidencies subordinate to the Governor-general of Bengal

Regulating act (1773)

Supreme court establishment at Calcutta in 1774 comprising of one chief justice and three judges

Prohibited servants of the company from engaging in any private trade or accepting bribes/presents

Laid the foundations of central administration in India

Pitt’s India Act (1784) Distinguished between commercial and

political functions of the company Court of directors were allowed to manage

commercial affairs and established Board of control to manage political affairs (double government)

Company’s territories in India were for the first time called the ‘British possessions in India’

Charter Act (1883)

G-G of Bengal was promoted as G-G of India with all civil and military powers

Lord William Bentick was the first G-G of India East India company became a purely

administrative body and not a commercial body

Attempted to introduce open competition for selecton of civil servants

Charter Act (1853)

Legislation was treated as a special function of the government for the first time

Introduced open competition system for selection of civil servants; Macaulay committee was appointed in 1854

Local representation in the Indian Legislative council was introduced and four members were appointed by provincial governments

Government of India Act (1858) Enacted in the wake of the Revolt of 1857 Abolished the East India company and

transferred all powers to the British crown Changed designation of G-G of India to that

of Viceroy of India Lord Canning was the first Viceroy of India Ended system of double government New office,Secretary of State for India was

created

Indian councils Acts

Acts were enacted in three years 1861,1892 and 1909

Every acts were in pursuance of the policy of association in which British government tried to seek the cooperation of the Indians in the administration of India

Act of 1861 is an important landmark in the constitutional and political history of India

Government of India Act (1919) Also known as Montagu-Chelmsford reforms Relaxed central control over provinces Divided the provincial subjects into two parts-

transferred and reserved Introduced bicameralism(upper and lower

houses) 50% seats in Viceroy’s executive council were

given to Indians

GOI Act (1919)…

Principles of communal representation was extended

Provided for the establishment of a Public Service Commission.A Central Public Service Commission was set up in 1926

Provincial and central budgets were seperated

Simon commission was appointed

GOI Act (1935)

Lengthy and detailed with 321 sections and 10 schedules

Establishment of an All India Federation was proposed but did not work out due to opposition from the princely states

Abolished dyarchy in provinces and provinces were declared as autonomous units

GOI Act (1935) Legislatures of

Bengal,Bombay,Madras,Bihar,Assam and the United provinces were made bicameral

Further extended principle of communal representation

Abolished council of India established by GOI act of 1858

GOI Act (1935) 10% of the population were given voting rights Provided for the establishment of Reserve

Bank A federal court was set up in 1937 Provincial and Joint PSCs were established

Indian Independence Act (1947) Ended British rule and declared India as an

independent and sovereign state from August 15,1947

Partition took place based on this Empowered constituent assemblies of India

and Pakistan to frame and adopt any constituition

Granted freedom to the Indian princely states either to join India or Pak or to remain Independent

Freedom finally…

The Indian Independence Act of 1947 made the title of ‘Emperor of India’ drop from the royal titles of the king of England

At the stroke of midnight of 14-15 August,1947,the British rule came to an end and power was transferred to two new independent dominions!!

Lord Mt.Batton swore in J.Nehru as the first PM

First Ministry

Thanks to..

Indian Polity for civil services examinations-M.Laxmikanth

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