The Province of Bengal was the hub of India’s independence movement against British rule in India during the Crown Rule (1858 – 1947). It caused the most concern to the colonial rulers. This system of government was put into place on June 28, 1858, when Queen Victoria, who had been crowned Empress of India in 1876, took over as ruler of the British East India Company following the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Pitt’s India Act of 1784
- Distinguished between commercial and political functions of the company.
- Court of Directors for Commercial functions and Board of Control for political affairs.
- Reduced the strength of the Governor General’s council to three members.
- Placed the Indian affairs under the direct control of the British Government.
- The companies territories in India were called “the British possession in India”.
- Governor’s councils were established in Madras and Bombay.
Charter Act of 1813
- The Company’s monopoly over Indian trade terminated; Trade with India open to all British subjects.
The Charter Act of 1833
- The British Government introduced the Charter Act of 1833 to delineate legislative functions.
- This act brought substantial changes to India’s constitutional structure.
- The Governor-General-in-Council exclusively held legislative power.
- The Council was composed of four members, including a Law Member.
- The Law Member’s attendance was obligatory only during legislative tasks.
- The Council’s duties were categorized: executive (Governor-General and three members) and legislative (Governor-General and four members).
- The Act laid the foundation for the future Central Legislature, also known as the Imperial Legislative Council.
The Charter Act of 1853
- The Charter Act of 1853 aimed to strengthen the legislative machinery.
- It extended legislative capacity of the Governor-General’s Council.
- The Act added six new members to the Council.
- Each of the four Provinces (Madras, Bombay, Bengal, North Western Provinces) contributed an official representative.
- The Chief Justice and a Supreme Court judge also joined.
- The Commander-in-Chief received extraordinary membership.
- Consequently, the Legislative Council’s strength increased to twelve members.
Crown Rule in India
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