Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 1K views

    Indian Councils Act 1892

    Uploaded by

    Aditi Banerjee
    The Indian Councils Act of 1892 introduced some reforms to the British governance of India, including increasing the number of Indian members in the legislative councils, providing for their indirect election, and enhancing the councils' powers. However, it failed to satisfy Indian demands and had several defects, as the councils still had limited powers and Indians lacked a real voice in administration. The act served as a stepping stone toward further constitutional reforms.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Indian Councils Act 1892

    Uploaded by

    Aditi Banerjee
    1K views12 pages
    The Indian Councils Act of 1892 introduced some reforms to the British governance of India, including increasing the number of Indian members in the legislative councils, providing for their indirect election, and enhancing the councils' powers. However, it failed to satisfy Indian demands and had several defects, as the councils still had limited powers and Indians lacked a real voice in administration. The act served as a stepping stone toward further constitutional reforms.

    Original Description:

    PPT

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The Indian Councils Act of 1892 introduced some reforms to the British governance of India, including increasing the number of Indian members in the legislative councils, providing for their indirect election, and enhancing the councils' powers. However, it failed to satisfy Indian demands and had several defects, as the councils still had limited powers and Indians lacked a real voice in administration. The act served as a stepping stone toward further constitutional reforms.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    1K views12 pages

    Indian Councils Act 1892

    Uploaded by

    Aditi Banerjee
    The Indian Councils Act of 1892 introduced some reforms to the British governance of India, including increasing the number of Indian members in the legislative councils, providing for their indirect election, and enhancing the councils' powers. However, it failed to satisfy Indian demands and had several defects, as the councils still had limited powers and Indians lacked a real voice in administration. The act served as a stepping stone toward further constitutional reforms.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    You are on page 1of 12

    Indian Councils Act

    1892

    Submitted by: Aditi Banerjee
    Roll Number: 2225
    2nd Semester, B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
    Submitted to: Dr. Priya Darshini (Faculty of Legal History)
    Chanakya National Law University, Patna
    Introduction

     The Indian Councils Act 1892 was an Act of British
    Parliament that introduced various amendments to the
    composition and function of legislative council in British
    India.
     It was introduced by Richard Assheton Cross, 1st Viscount
    Cross, and it was enacted by the Parliament of United
    Kingdom.
     It had got royal assent on 20th June, 1892 and commenced
    on 3rd February, 1893.
     This Act was repealed by the Government of India Act,
    1915.
    History of the Act

     The Indian Council Act of 1861 failed to satisfy even
    the liberal opinion in India.
     Indians were gradually becoming aware of their rights
    with the growth of nationalism. Several associations,
    prior to the establishment of the Indian National
    Congress, expressed the desire that the legislative
    councils should be made effective bodies for framing
    laws and controlling the Executive Councils.
     The Indian National Congress, after its establishment
    in 1885, demanded further reforms.
    History of the Act

     The Indians were dissatisfied over the existing
    system of governance. The Indian leaders wanted
    admission of a considerable number of the elected
    members. They also wanted a right to discussion on
    budget matters. 
     Lord Dufferin, the Governor-General, himself,
    suggested a scheme of reform for this purpose. His
    successor, Lord Lansdowne, also favoured
    constitutional reforms with a view to satisfy the
    Indian Liberals.
    History of the Act

     The British traders and monopolists in India were
    also of the same opinion. They were confident of
    sending their representatives in Legislative Councils
    provided some sort of election-device was
    introduced for choosing their members.
     All these factors pointed out the necessity of further
    reforms, and the Indian Councils Act, 1892 came into
    existence.
    Provisions of the Act

     The number of additional members in the Legislature
    at the Centre was increased. The minimum number
    was fixed as ten and the maximum twenty. Among
    them, at least ten were to be non-officials.
     The number of additional members in provincial
    legislatures was also increased. There the minimum
    number was kept as eight and the maximum twenty.
    The number of non-official members among them
    was also increased. The number of total members
    varied from province to province.
    Provisions of the Act

     The members of the Legislative Councils continued to be
    nominated by the Governor-General and the governors. But,
    provision was made in this Act to nominate them on the basis
    of recommendations by certain organised associations. For the
    Centre, the non-official members of the Provincial Legislatures
    were also empowered to send their recommendations. Thus,
    the Act made provision for indirect election for the members of
    the Legislative Councils.
     The powers of the Legislative Councils were enhanced a little,
    like these were allowed to discuss the annual budgets, the
    members had the right to ask questions from the Executive
    Councillors, etc.
    Effects of the Act

     The increase in the number of Indian members in the
    Legislative Councils, the provision of their indirect election
    and enhancement of their powers were all in the direction
    of gradual establishment of Parliamentary government.
     Certain scholars have even remarked that ‘the foundation
    of responsible government was really laid in 1892 and not
    in 1861.
     The act failed to satisfy the Indian public opinion.
     The demand of further constitutional reforms came to the
    fore-front very soon.
    Defects in the Act

     The functions of the Legislative Councils were strictly
    circumscribed. The members could not ask supplementary
    questions. The President could refuse the asking of any
    question, and there was no remedy against his ruling.
     The Councils did not get any substantial control over the
    Budget.
     The rules of election were unfair. Certain classes were
    over-represented and others did not find any
    representation at all.
     The number of non-official members was very small.
    Defects in the Act

     There was practically no chance to the non-official
    members to amend a bill introduced by the Government.
    The bill had to be passed in the form in which it had been
    previously approved of by the Government of India or the
    Secretary of State for India.
     Under the circumstances, debates in the legislatures were a
    mere formal ceremony.
     The Act still left Indians without any real voice in the
    administration of their country.
     The Provincial Councils were too small in size to represent
    the people of the provinces.
    Conclusion

     The Act of 1892 fell far short of the demands made
    by the Indian National Congress.
     By conceding the principle of election, and giving the
    Legislative Councils some control over the Executive,
    it paved the way for future progress on those lines
    which were destined to place in the hands of the
    Indians a large measure of control over the
    administration of the country.

    You might also like