Lecture’s Outline [CSS COMPETITION ZONE PAKISTAN-AN ONLINE ACADEMY ]

Government of India Act-1919

(Montague-chalmesford Reforms)

Introduction

 Act of 1909 was not enough sufficient.

 Proposals of Lucknow Pact-1916.
 In the joint session of M.L and Congress in July 1917, it was decided to send
a delegation to England to meet the Sec. of state. (Montague)
 Delegation included Mr. Jinnah, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Wazir Hassan and
Srinivasa Sastri.
 They asked Montague to include their demands, mentioned in the Lucknow
Pact, in the coming Act of India.
 Montague was convinced that the demands should be fulfilled because
Muslims and Hindus were in common alliance now.
 Both Montague and Chalmesford prepared the Act which was approved in
1918 and implemented from 1919.

Features of the Act

 Council of the Sec. of the state will comprise of 8 to 12 members, out of

which 3 will be Indians who had served for at least 10 years in the British
government.
 Sec. of state will follow the advice of its council.
 Expenses of the Sec. of state and his council will be paid by the British
government.
 Sec. of state will not interfere in the matters of the Viceroy and his council.
 Viceroy can nominate members for his executive council according to his
will but members should have served for at least 10 years in British
government.

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 Lecture’s Outline [CSS COMPETITION ZONE PAKISTAN-AN ONLINE ACADEMY ]

 Decision of the viceroy will be the final one, which cannot be challenged by
his executive council.
 Central legislature will comprise of two houses i.e. Bicameral legislature
 Upper house/council of state shall consist of 60 members out of which
33 will be elected and 27 nominated from princely states.
 Lower house/legislative council shall consist of 144 members, out of
which 103 will be elected and 41 nominated.
 Duration of the upper house will be 5 years and that of lower house will be 3
years.
 Franchise was limited (tax of 10,000 and above for upper house and 10 for
lower house).
 Joint session of both the houses for disputed issues.
 Provincial legislature will be unicameral with 70% members elected and
30% nominated.
 Separate electorate was awarded to all the communities.
 There were two lists of subjects :
 Central subjects: it includes defense, foreign affairs, finance, railways
and communication.
 Provincial subjects: it includes education, health, police, forests,
commerce, judiciary, land revenue, press, power, local government
and irrigation.
 System of diarchy was introduced in the provinces.
 Reserve subjects: judiciary irrigation, land revenue, press, power etc.
 Transferred subjects: local government, education, health etc.
 New reforms will be introduced after 10 years.

Muslim and Hindu response

 Both rejected the act and did not take part in the coming elections.

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