Minto-Morley Reforms 1909

 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.

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