Historical background of Indian constitution

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF INDIAN CONSTITUTION 

Before 1947, India was divided into two main entities – The British India which consisted of 11 provinces and the Princely states ruled by Indian princes under subsidiary alliance policy. The two entities merged together to form the Indian Union, but many of the legacy systems in British India is followed even now. The historical underpinnings and evolution of the India Constitution can be traced to many regulations and acts passed before Indian Independence.

Indian System of Administration

Indian democracy is Parliamentary form of democracy where executive is responsible to the Parliament. The Parliament has two houses – Loksabha and Rajyasabha. Also the type of governance is Federal, ie there is separate executive and legislature at Center and States. We also have self governance at local government levels. All these systems owe their legacy to the British administration. Let us see the historical background of Indian Constitution and its development through years.

Regulating Act of 1773

  • The first step taken by the British Parliament to control and regulate the affairs of the East India Company in India.
  • It designated the Governor of Bengal (Fort William) as the Governor-General (of Bengal).
  • Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of Bengal.
  • Executive Council of the Governor-General was established (Four members). There was no separate legislative council.
  • It subordinated the Governors of Bombay and Madras to the Governor-General of Bengal.
  • The Supreme Court was established at Fort William (Calcutta) as the Apex Court in 1774.
  • It prohibited servants of the company from engaging in any private trade or accepting bribes from the natives.
  • Court of Directors (governing body of the company) should report its revenue.

Pitt’s India Act of 1784

  • Distinguished between commercial and political functions of the company.
  • Court of Directors for Commercial functions and Board of Control for political affairs.
  • Reduced the strength of the Governor General’s council to three members.
  • Placed the Indian affairs under the direct control of the British Government.
  • The companies territories in India were called “the British possession in India”.
  • Governor’s councils were established in Madras and Bombay

Charter act of 1813

  • The Company’s monopoly over Indian trade terminated; Trade with India open to all British subjects.
  • 1 lakh rupees given for education. 

Charter Act of 1833

  • Governor-General (of Bengal)became as the Governor-General of India.
  • First Governor-General of India was Lord William Bentick.
  • This was the final step towards centralization in the British India.
  • Beginning of a Central legislature for India as the act also took away legislative powers of Bombay and Madras provinces.
  • The Act ended the activities of the East India Company as a commercial body and it became a pure administrative body.

Charter Act of 1853

  • The legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General’s Council were separated.
  • 6 members in Central legislative council. Four out of six members were appointed by the provisional governments of Madras, Bombay, Bengal and Agra.
  • It introduced a system of open competition as the basis for the recruitment of civil servants of the Company (Indian Civil Service opened for all).

Government of India Act of 1858

  • The rule of Company was replaced by the rule of the Crown in India.
  • The powers of the British Crown were to be exercised by the Secretary of State for India
  • He was assisted by the Council of India, having 15 members
  • He was vested with complete authority and control over the Indian administration through the Vice roy as his agent
  • The Governor-General was made the Viceroy of India.
  • Lord Canning was the first Viceroy of India.
  • Abolished Board of Control and Court of Directors.

Indian Councils Act of 1861

  • It introduced for the first time Indian representation in the institutions like Viceroy’s executive+legislative council (non-official). 3 Indians entered Legislative council.
  • Legislative councils were established in Center and provinces.
  • It provided that the Vice-roys Executive Council should have some Indians as the non-official members while transacting the legislative businesses.
  • It accorded statutory recognition to the portfolio system.
  • Initiated the process of decentralisation by restoring the legislative powers to the Bombay and the Madras Provinces.

India Council Act of 1892

  • Introduced indirect elections (nomination).
  • Enlarged the size of the legislative councils.
  • Enlarged the functions of the Legislative Councils and gave them the power of discussing the Budget and addressing questions to the Executive.

Indian Councils Act of 1909

  1. This Act is also known as the Morley- Minto Reforms.
  2. Direct elections to legislative councils; first attempt at introducing a representative and popular element.
  3. It changed the name of the Central Legislative Council to the Imperial Legislative Council.
  4. The member of Central Legislative Council was increased to 60 from 16.
  5. Introduced a system of communal representation for Muslims by accepting the concept of ‘separate electorate’.
  6. Indians for the first time in Viceroys executive council. (Satyendra Prasad Sinha, as the law member)

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