The constitutional history of india began with advent of east india company in 1600 A.D
Regulating Act, 1773:
The act introduced parliamentary suvervision over
the company and modified its constitution
both in India and England
- End of
Dual government
- Governor
of bengal was made the governor
general and provided with council consisting of four members
- Establishment
of Supreme Court in Calcutta.
Pitts Act of 1784:
- gave
the British Government a measure of control over the company’s affairs.
- company
became a subordinate department of the State.
Act of 1786:
- Governor
General given the power to over-ride the Council and was made the
Commander-in-chief also.
Charter Act of 1793:
- Company
given monopoly of trade for 20 more years.
- laid
the foundation of govt. by written laws, interpreted by courts.
Charter Act of 1813:
- Company
deprived of its trade monopoly in India except in tea and trade with
China.
Charter Act of 1833:
- End of
Company’s monopoly even in tea and trade with China.
- Company
was asked to close its business at the earliest.
- Governor
General of Bengal to be Governor General of India
- (1st
Governor General of India was Lord William Bentinck).
Charter Act of 1853:
- The
Act renewed the powers of the Company and allowed it to retain the
possession of Indian territories in trust of the British crown.
- Recruitment
to Civil Services was based on open annual competition examination
(excluding Indians).
- No law
or regulation was to be passed unless assented to by governor-genera
Government of India Act, 1858:
- Rule
of Company in India ended and that of the Crown began.
- A post
of Secretary of State (a member of the British cabinet) for India created.
- He
was to exercise the powers of the Crown.
- Secretary
of State governed India through the Governor General.
- Governor
General received the title of Viceroy. He represented Secretary of State
and was assisted by an Executive Council, which consisted of high
officials of the Govt.
Indian Council Act, 1861:
The Executive Council was now to be called Central Legislative
Council.
Indian Council Act, 1892:
Indians found their way in the Provincial Legislative
Councils.
Indian Council Act, 1909 or Morley-Minto Act:
It envisaged a separate electorate for Muslims.
Government of India Act, 1919 Or Montague-Chelmsford Reforms:
- Dyarchy
system introduced in the provinces.
- The
Provincial subjects of administration were to be divided into 2
categories:
- Transferred
- administrated
by the Governor with the aid of ministers responsible to the Legislative
Council
- Reserved
- The
Governor and the Executive Council were to administer the reserved
subjects without any responsibility to the legislature.
- Indian
legislature became bicameral for the first time, it actually happened
after 1935 Act.
Government of India Act, 1935:
- Provided
for the establishment of All-India Federation consisting of
- British
Provinces
- Princely
States.
- The
joining of Princely States was voluntary and as a result the federation
did not come into existence.
- Dyarchy
was introduced at the Centre (Eg, Department of Foreign Affairs and
Defence were reserved for the Governor General).
- Provincial
autonomy replaced Dyarchy in provinces. They were granted separate legal
identidy.
Burma (now Myanmar) separated from India.
