Lecture 4
Pre Independence Governance Part3
Act Passed in India EICo. Rule- Governor/Governor General
Bengal Regulation 1818- for preventive detention in Bengal region
Bengal Sati Regulation 1829- William Bentinck made the sati practice illegal in British India(Raja Ram Mohan Roy)
Thugee and Dacoit Suppressions Acts 1836
Caste Disabilities Removal Act 1850- it abolished all laws affecting the rights of people converting to another religion or caste. The new Act allowed hindus who converted from Hindu religion to another religion equal rights under new law, especially in the case of inheritance.
Hindu Widow’s Remarriage Act 1856- drafted by Dalhousie and passed by Canning(Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar)
General Service Enlistment Act 1856- passed by Lord Canning to sent Indian soldiers overseas.
Act Passed in India Crown Rule- Viceroy
Societies Registration Act 1860
Civil procedure code 1859(1908), Indian Penal Code 1860, Criminal Procedure Code 1861(1973)
The Paper Currency Act 1861- EICo will be sole authority to issue currency notes
Female Infanticide Prevention Act 1870, Criminal Tribes Act 1871, Christian Personal Law 1872
Indian Contract Act 1872
Dramatic Performances Act 1876- to stop protest because of stage performance
Indian Treasure Trove Act 1878- discovered treasure should be reported to Authority
Negotiable Instruments Act 1881, Transfer of Property Act 1882
Ilbert Bill 1883- Introduced by Peregine Ilbert(Viceroy- Ripon) correction in CrPC act 1861, allowing Indian Judges to hear the cases of British subjects. But because of opposition for European members the half of the Jury members should be European if British subject ask for it.
Indian Telegraph Act 1885
Age of Consent Act 1891- passed because of two cases at that time and raised the age of consent for sexual intercourse for all girls from 10 to 12 years old.
1. Rukhmabai who got married at the age of 11 years to Bhikaji. But order by Bombay high court to live with husband or face 6 months imprisonment.
2. Phulmoni Dasi(11 years old Bengali girl) died due to forceful intercourse by her 35-year-old husband in 1889
Punjab Land Alienation Act, 1900, Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904,
Prevention of Seditious Meetings Act, 1907, The Explosives Substances Act 1908
Ingress into India ordinance 1914- passed at the outset of World War 1 to detain and restrict the movement of people returning to India.
Defence of India Act 1915- to curtail the nationalist and revolutionary activities during World War 1
Rowlatt Act 1919- introduced as defense of India act was about to expire and this act was to extend the Defense of India Act. Arrest without trial for 2 years + indefinite preventive detention. Repealed in 1922
Official Secrets Act 1923- India's anti-espionage act
Bengal Criminal Law Amendment 1924- same as rowlatt act to counter Jugantar group and Anushilan Samiti
Indian Forest Act 1927- procedure to declare Reserved Forest, Protected Forest and Village Forest
Hindu Inheritance (Removal of Disabilities) Act 1928- abolish the exclusion of converted people from inheritance
Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929(Sarda Act)- based on Joshi Committee Girl(14 years) & Boys(18 years)
Indian Sale of Goods Act 1930, Indian Partnership Act 1932
The Foreigners Act 1946
Industrial Disputes Act 1947- the act defined the Public Utility Service. The act was replaced by the Industrial Relations Code 2020.
Sindh Land Alienation Bill 1947- returning the mortgaged land to the owners in Sindh region. But after the independence, Jinnah Governor General of Pakistan didn't gave his assent.
Privy council jurisdiction act 1949- Passed by Indian legislative Assembly to restrict the jurisdiction of London Privy Council(Hieghest appellate body)
28 Jan 1950- SC replaced Fedral Court of India and Privy Council, Landon.
Factory Acts
Factory Act 1881(during tenure of lord Ripon mainly for children)
- No employment to children below the age of 7.
- Limited the working hours of children between 7-12 years of age. Not more than 9 hours a day and 1 hour break each day.
- They must also have 4 days leave each month.
- Factory commission was appointed in 1885
Factory Act 1891(during tenure of Lord Lansdowne mainly for women interest)
- Limited working hours- 11 hours a day for women labourers.
- Break to Women labourers- an hour and half each day.
- Prohibited employment of children below 9 years.
- Working hours of Children(9-14)- 7 hours/day(earlier 9 hours).
- Weekly holiday for all
- Royal Commission on Labor(1892)
- Non applicability of these laws to British-owned tea & coffee plantations where the labour was exploited ruthlessly & treated like slaves.
Factory Act of 1911
- Adult male labourers could not be forced to work for more than
- 12 hours every day.
- After every six hours of work, they were entitled for a break of half an hour.
Budget Data
Pre Independence
1st budget of India- 1860 by James Wilson(1st finance minister)
Last budget- 1947-48 by Liaquat Ali Khan(member of interim Government)
Post Independence
1st budget of independent India- 1947 by Shri Shanmukham Chetty(1st finance minister of Independent India)
Press Act Passed in British India
Censor Act 1799- introduced by Wellesley abolished by Hastings. Printing the name of printer, editor and proprietor.
Licensing regulation 1823- introduced by John Adam abolished by Charles Metcalf. As per the act license was required to operate printing press
Libration of Indian Press Act 1835- Passed by Charles Metcalfe(liberator of the Indian press). Repealead Licensing regulation 1823, now only a declaration is required by press operator instead of license(Only registration, no license).
Licensing Act 1857- introduced by Canning after the revolt of 1857. Registration + License(Government has authority to prohibit Publication and distribution on any topic)
Registration Act 1867- Every book/newspaper had to include the printers and publisher's names, as well as the location of publication. Also a copy of Print material was to be submitted to the local government within 1 month of publication.
Vernacular Press Act 1878(Gagging Act)- introduced by Lytton repealed by Ripon(1882). The act was discriminatory to vernacular press. Amrita Bazar Patrika, Bengali weekly converted to english language.
As per the act vernacular press need to sign a bond with Magistrate for being loyal to British Government. Magistrate had power to seize security money+ printing press and his decision will be final(no appeal)
Newspaper Act 1908- Magistrate had the power to confiscate the assets of the press. Against this confiscation one can appeal to High Court in 15 days.
Indian Press Act 1910- local government(Magistrate) was empowered to demand a security at registration from the printer/publisher and forfeit/deregister.
Indian Press(Emergency Power) Act 1931- It was enacted after salt satyagrah(Civil Disobedience Movement) and granted wide ranging powers to government to suppress any publication. 6 months imprisonment for printing without permission.
Defence of India Rules(1939)- during the Second World War pre-censorship was imposed and amendments were made in the Press Emergency Act, the penalty of imprisonment was extended to five years.
Press Regulating Act 1942- Registration of journalists was made mandatory. Govt had the authority on arbitrary censorship.
Press Law Inquiry Committee 1948- set up by GoI under the chairmanship of Ganganath Jha. It reviewed various colonial Act and suggested to repeal the Indian Press(Emergency Powers) Act 1931.
Commission in British India
Education
Wood Despatch(1854, Lord Dalhousie)- Western education in English language
Hunter Commission(1882, Lord Ripon)- To review the implementation of Wood despatch.
Raleigh Commission(1902, Lord Curzon)- To review the working of university. University Act 1904
Sadler Commission(1917, Lord Chelmsford)- University review
Hartog Commission(1929, Lord Irwin)- Education survey in British India
Sargent Plan(1944, Lord Wavell)- Education on the line of education in Britain
Economy/Currency
Mansfield Commission(1886, Lord Dufferin)
Fowler Commission(1898, Lord Elgin-II)
Babington Smith Commission(1919, Lord Chelmsford)
Whitley Commission(1929, Lord Irwin)- For Labour
Sapru Commission(1935, Lord Linlithgow)- For Unemployment
Hilton young Commission(1939, Lord Linlithgow)
Famine/Agriculture
Campbell Commission(1866, Sir John Lawrence)- To look famine in Odisha
Stratchy Commission(1880, Lord Lytton)- Famine commission to review report of Campbell Commission
Lyall Commission(1886, Lord Elgin-II)- Famine commission recommended irrigation facilities
MacDonnell Commission(1900, Lord Curzon)- Famine commission
Scott-Moncrieff Commission(1901, Lord Curzon)- Irrigation
Administrative
Lottery Committee(1817, Francis Hastings)- Town planning in Calcutta
Aitchison Committee(1886, Lord Dufferin)- Public Services
Fraser Commission(1902, Lord Curzon)- Police Reform
Islington Commission(1912,)- on civil service(Simultaneous exam in England and India)
Hunter Committee Report(1919, Lord Chelmsford)- Punjab Disturbance
Muddiman Committee(1924, Lord Reading)- To examine the diarchy
Butler Commission(1927, Lord Irwin)- Indian states relation with British crown
Chatfield Commission(1939, Lord Linlithgow)- For Army
Floud Commission(1940, Lord Linlithgow)- Tenancy in Bengal region
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