CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS DURING NATIONAL MOVEMENT

Morley- Minto Reforms -1909

Features 1.No. of elected members in Imperial & Provincial Legislative Councils increased- elected non-officials still in minority 2.Seperate electorates introduced for Muslims 3. Legislatures could pass resolutions; ask questions n supplementaries, vote separate items of the budget. 4. One Indian to be on viceroys executive council. 5. Elected non-officials to be elected indirectly thus elections introduced for the first time. 1.Dyarchy in provinces 2. Two lists reserved and transferred for administration .reserved subjects to be administrated by ministers from legislative council. 3.extensive powers to governor , governor general n secretary of the state for interference 4.franchise expanded , powers also extended 5.Governor general to administer with an executive council of 8- three to be Indians 6.Two lists for administration central n provincial 7. Bicameral central legislature central legislative Assemble as the lower house and council of states as the upper house Came in 1928 to explore possibility of further constitutional advance Drawbacks 1. aimed at dividing the nationalist ranks and at rallying the Moderates n the Muslims to the Govts side 2.No responsibility entrusted to legislatures this resulted in thoughtless criticism sometimes 3. System of election was too indirect.

Montagu- Chelmsford Reforms

1.Dyarchy arrangement too complex n irrational to be functional 2. Central executive not responsible to legislation 3. Limited franchise

Simon Commission 1928

Boycotted by Indians because no Indian represented in the commission

Nehru Report 1928

Government of India Act 1935

Linlithgows Statement (17 Oct 1939)

1.First Indian effort to draft constitutional scheme 2.dominion status 3.not separate electorates, but joint electorates with reserved seats for minorities 4.linguistic provinces 5.19 Fundamental rights 6.responsible government at centre and in provinces Proposed 1.an All India Federation; bicameral legislature at the centre; provincial autonomy; three lists for legislation- federal, provincial and concurrent 2.At centre , subjects to be administered divided into reserved and transferred categories 3.Provincial legislators to be directly to be elected 1.Britains war aim is to resist aggression 2. All interest groups are to be consulted to modify 1935 act for Future 3.immediately a consultative committee is to be formed for advising functions 1.dominion Status to be the long term objective 2.After the war, constituent assembly to be formed comprising mainly Indians 3. Minorities consent to be essential for any future settlement 1.An Indian Union with dominion status, with right to withdraw from Commonwealth 2.after war, a constituent assembly elected by provincial assemblies to frame the constitution 3.Freedom to any province unwilling to join the Union to have a separate agreement with Britain

Congress Response 1.No Indian support to the war 2. Congress ministries in province to resign 3. But no immediate mass struggle to be launched Congress rejected the offer

August Offer (1940)

Cripps Mission ( March 1942)

C. Rajagopalachari

1.league should immediately support

Congress objected to 1.dominion status 2.right to provinces to secede 3.no immediate transfer of power 4.retention of governorgenerals supremacy Muslim League objected to 1.Pakistan not being explicitly offered 2.the machinery for creation of constituent Assembly Jinnah rejected the offer as he

Formula (March 1944)

Desai Liaqat Pact Wavell Plan ( Shimla conference June 1945)

independence for India n cooperate in Interim Govt 2.After War, Muslim majority areas to exercise right to self-determination 3. In case of partition, common centre for defense , commerce, communication etc 1.Congress and league nominees to have equal representation in Central executive 2.20% of seats reserved for minorities 1.An all Indian executive council except the governor-general and commander-in chief 2.equal representation for caste Hindus n Muslims

wanted Congress to accept the two- nation theory

Cabinet Mission

Attlees Statement ( Feb 20, 19470

Proposals 1.rejected of Pakistan 2.grouping of existing assemblies into three sections A, B, C 3.three-tier executive and legislature at province, princely sates and union level 4.provincial assemblies to elect a constituent assembly 5. common centre for defense , communication, external Affairs 6.Provinces to have autonomy and residual power 7.Princely states free to have an arrangement with the successor government or the British Govt 8.in future, a province free to come out of the section or the union 1.June 30, 1948 as deadline for transfer of power 2. power may be transferred to one centre or in some areas to existing provincial governments

1.Muslim League wanted all Muslims to be its nominees and claimed a communal veto in the executive council 2.congress objected to it being painted purely as a caste hindu party Congress claimed that the grouping was optional while the league thought that the grouping was compulsory. mission decided the mateer in the Leagues favor

Mountbatten Plan June 3, 1947

1.Punjab and Bengal Assemblies to take decision on partition 2.Sindh to take its own decision 3.Referendum to be held in NWEP and Sylhet District 4.Two dominions to be created if partition is to take place, with two Constituent Assemblies 5.Freedom to be granted on Aug 15, 1947