MINTO-MORLEY REFORMS 1909
NAME-ARVIND S
COLLEGE-SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE IN LAW, CHENNAI
UNIVERSITY-THE TAMILNADU DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY
DATE-3 RD JULY 2022
The Indian Councils Act 1892, failed to satisfy the Indian people. It left little scope for the
popular representation in the Councils. The political situation in India led the British
authorities to think of introducing constitutional reforms with a view to secure the support of
moderates in the Indian National Congress. Mr. Gopal Krishna Gokhale, the chief leader of
the moderate section in the Congress went to England met the Secretary of State for India,
Lord John Morley and tried to convince him of the urgency of the constitutional reforms.
Lord Morley was sympathetic to the views of Gokhale. Lord Minto, the Viceroy of India, was
also in favor of introducing Constitutional reforms.
The Committee appointed by Lord Minto, submitted its report in October 1906. A Bill was
prepared on this basis of that report. In 1909, the British Parliament passed it to become an
Act. This Act, The Indian Councils Act, 1909 is the result of the efforts of Lord Minto, the
Viceroy of India and Lord Morley and consequently, the reforms introduced are popularly
known as Minto-Morley Reforms.
The Main objects of the Act:
a) To increase the size of the Legislative Councils;
b) To enlarge the functions of the Legislative Councils.
c) To increase the proportion of elected members and
d) To secure the support of moderates in the Indian National Congress.
Provisions:
1) The enlargement in the size of the Supreme Legislative Council:
The Indian Councils Act, 1909 greatly increased the strength of the Central Council. The
number of additional members was increased from 16 (under 1892 Act) to 60. The total
strength of the Supreme Council was thus fixed at 69, including the Governor-General.
The Governor-General in Council, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State was
empowered to make regulations as to the conditions under which and the manner in which
persons residents in India might be nominated or elected to the Supreme or Local Legislative
Councils and qualifications for the elected and nominated members.
2) Enlargement in the size of Provincial Legislative Council:
The number of Additional members of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Madras, Bombay and United
Provinces was raised to 50. Punjab, Burma and Assam and Central Provinces to 30. Each
Council had both Official and Non-Official members. Other features are just as Central
Legislative Council.
3) Introduction of the system of indirect election:
The Indian Councils Act, 1909 introduced an elective principle of giving representation to all
class was undoubtedly an outstanding feature. But the election was however indirect. The
people elected the members of Municipalities, District Boards etc. who in turn elected the
members for the provincial Legislative Councils. The members so elected chose the members
of Supreme Legislative Council. So the election to Supreme Legislative Council was by a
double indirect method and people had no direct contact with these members.
4) Appointment of Indians to the Executive Council:
Lord Sinha, the Advocate –General of Bengal was appointed by the Secretary of State to the
Governor General’s Council as a law member of the Government.
5) Introduction of communal representations:
The most unfortunate aspect of the Act of 1909 was that it provided representation on
communal basis. The Act favoured the Muslims by giving them the right of separate
representation and the excuse was political expediency.
THANK YOU
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