Administrative & Legislative Reforms Before 1857
- Regulating Act of 1773
- This Act was based o the report of a committee headed by the British Prime Minister Lord North.
- Governance of the East India Company was put under British Parliamentary control.
- The Governor of Bengal was nominated as Governor General for all the three Presidencies of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. Warren Hastings was the first such Governor General.
- A supreme court was established in Calcutta(Now Kolkata).
- Governor General was empowered to make rules, regulations and ordinances with the consent of the supreme court.
- Pitts India Act of 1784
- It was enacted to improve upon the provisions of Regulating Act of 1773 to bring about better discipline in the Company's system of administration.
- A 6-member Board of Controllers was set up which was headed by a minister of the British Government. All political responsibilities were given to this board.
- Trade and commerce related issues were under the purview of the Court of Directors of the company.
- Provinces had to follow the instructions of the Central Government and Governor General was empowered to dismiss the failing Provincial Government.
- Charter Act of 1793
- Main provisions of the previous Acts were consolidated in this Act.
- Provided for the payment of salaries of the members of the Board of Controllers from Indian revenue.
- Courts were given the power to interpret rules and regulations.
- Charter Act of 1813
- Trade Monopoly of the East India Company came to an end.
- Powers of the three Councils of Madras, Bombay, and calcutta were enlarged, they were also subjected to greater control of the British Parliament.
- The Christian Missionaries were allowed to spread their religion in India.
- Local autonomous bodies were empowered to levy taxes.
- Charter Act of 1833
- The Governor General and his Council were given vast powers. This Council could legislate for the whole of India subject to the approval of the Board of Controllers.
- The Council got full powers regarding revenue, and a single budget for the country was prepared by the Governor General.
- The East India Company was reduced to an administrative and political entity and several Lords and Ministers were nominated as ex-officio members of the Board of Controllers.
- For the first time, the Governor-General's Government was known as the "Government of India" and his Council as the "Indian Council".
- Charter Act of 1853
- This was the last of the Charter Acts and it made important changes in the system of Indian legislation.
- This Act followed a report of then Governor General Dalhousie for improving the administration of the company.
- A separate Governor for Bengal was to be appointed.
- Legislative and administrative functions of the Council were separately identified.
- Recruitment of the Company's employees was to be done through competitive exams.
- British Parliament was empowered to put Company's governance of India to and end at any suitable time.
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