Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909

The period between 1892 and 1909 was one of storm and stress. The Vice-royalty of Lord Curzon witnessed a lot of agitation and discontentment in the country. The same could be said about Lord Minto. The agitation against the Partition of Bengal was widespread. The Government of India had to resort to very harsh measures to put down the nationalist movement in the country. However, the Government thought of winning over the moderates and for their purpose passed the Indian councils Act in 1909. It was Lord Morley who piloted the Bill through the British Parliament.

Provisions of the Act

1. The Act of 1909 increased the size of the legislative councils. The additional members of the Governor-General’s Council were increased up to a maximum of 60, those of Madras, Bengal U.P., Bombay and Bihar and Orissa to a maximum of 50 and those of the Punjab, Burma and Assam to 30.

2. Lord Morley insisted on retaining a substantial official majority in the imperial Legislative Council and consequently it was provided that the imperial Legislative Council shall consist of 37 officials and 23 non-officials. Out of the 37 officials, 28 were nominated by the Governor-General and the rest were to be ex-officia. The ex-officio members were to be the Governor-General, 6 ordinary members of the Council, and two extraordinary members. Out of the 32 non-official members, 5 were to be nominated by the Governor-general and the rest were to be elected.

3. The Act did not provide for any official majority in the Provincial legislative Councils. The majority of the members were to be non-officials. However, this does not mean that there were to be non-oficial elected majorities in the provincial councils. Some of the non-officials were to be nominated by the Governor and the Government could always depend upon the unflinching loyalty of the nominated members.

4. According to the Government of India, territorial representation was not suited to the people of India. “ Representation by classes and interests in the only practicable method of embodying the elective principle in the constitution of the Indian Legislative Councils.” The Act provide for separate or special electorates for the die representation of the different communities, classes and interests. The remaining seats were allotted to the municipalities and district boards which were called “general electorates.”

5. The functions of the Legislative Councils were increased. Elaborate rules were made for the discussion of the budget in the imperial legislative Council. Every member was given the right to move any resolution relating to any alteration in taxation, any new loan or any additional grant to local Governments proposed or mentioned in the financial statement or explanatory memorandum. The Council was not permitted to discuss expenditure on interest on debt, ecclesiastical expenditure and State Railways etc. it is to be noted that the financial statement was first referred to a Committee of the council with the Finance Member as its Chairman. Half of its members were to be nominated by the head of the Government and the other half were elected by the non-official members of the council.

6. The members were given the right of asking questions and supplementary questions for the purpose of further elucidating any point. But the member in charge of department might refuse to answer the supplementary questions off-hand. He may demand some time for the same.

7. The members were given the power to move resolutions in the Councils. Those resolutions were to be in the form of a definite recommendation to the government. They must be clearly and precisely expressed and must raise definite issues. The resolutions were not to contain arguments, inferences, ironical expressions etc. the president may disallow any resolution or part of a resolution without giving any reason for the same.

8. Rules were also framed under the act of the discussion of matters of genera public interest in the Legislative Councils. No discussion was permitted on any subject not within the legislative competence of the particular Legislature, any matter affecting the relations of the Government of India with a foreign power or a native state and any matter under adjudication by a court of law.

9. The Act raised the number of the members of the Executive Council in Bombay, Bengal and Madras to 4. It also empowered the Government to constitute an Executive Council for a Lieutenant-Governor’s province also.

10. In the Provinces, the University Senates, landlords, District Boards and Municipalities and Chambers of Commerce were to elect Members. Muslims were given separate representation. Muslim members of the Legislatures were elected by the Muslims themselves.

11. Disqualifications were imposed on political offenders. They could not offer themselves for election. However, the heads of the Governments were given the power to remove those disqualifications.

Criticism of the Act

1. The reforms of 1909 could not come up to the expectations of the Indians.what the people of India demanded was that there should be set up a responsible government in the country. But the sacred heart of the reforms of 1909 was “benevolent despotism.” While introducing the Bill in the Parliament, Lord Morley had declared that he had no intention to give up the people of India responsible government. Under the circumstances the reforms could not satisfy the people.

2. The reforms led to a lot of confusion. While parliamentary reforms were introduced, no responsibility was given. The result was thoughtless and irresponsible criticism of the government. Indian leaders made legislatures the platforms for denunciation of the Government. The feeling that they would not have to shoulder responsibility made the members critical of the government.

3. The reforms introduced the system of elections. But the number of voters was very small. In some case, the number of voters in a constituency did not exceed 9 or 10. Since the number was small, all the votes could be bought. Women were completely excluded.

4. The system of elections was indirect. The people elected members of local bodies. The latter elected members of an Electoral College. The Electoral College elected members of the provincial legislature and the members of the provincial legislature elected members of the imperial Legislature. The result was that there was no connection between the people and the members sitting in the legislature. The members felt no responsibility towards the people.

5. The act of 1909 introduced separate electorates for Muslims. The evil did not end here. In 1919 the Sikhs also got separate electorates. The Act of 1935 gave separate representation of Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, Europeans and the Harijans. It could be denied that one of the effects of communal representation was the establishment of Pakistan in 1947.

6. The Act gave great importance to the vested interest by giving special representation to them, e.g. landholders, Chambers of Commerce etc.

7. The Indians resented the maintenance of an official majority in the imperial Council. Although the government of India had expressed their willingness to allow the Indians to have a majority at the centre, Lord Morley did not agree to it on the ground that since the Indian were given a non-official majority in the provincial councils, the imperial Council should be maintained as their place of refuge in case they were defeated in the provinces.

8. Although non-official majority was given in the provincial councils the practical result was nothing. The non-official majority was nullified by the fact that it included nominated members. There was no real majority of those who represented the people.

9. The Indians wanted the Government of England to make a clear indication as to what their goal was going to be in India. Was it to be the establishment of a responsible Government in India? If so, within how much time, and by what means? The Act of 1909 gave no answer to all these important questions.

10. The reforms were in the nature of a half way House which could scarcely satisfy the expectations of the Indians who wanted the transfer of power.

Milan Tomic

Hi. I’m Designer of Blog Magic. I’m CEO/Founder of ThemeXpose. I’m Creative Art Director, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Industrial Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, StartUp Enthusiast, Speaker, Writer and Photographer. Inspired to make things looks better.

Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909