CONSTITUTIONAL AND

ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS IN
NWFP
NWFP province was established in 1901 by the British India on the British Indian side of the Durand
Lines. The region was made as a buffer state to neutralize the Russia hostility during the Great Game
period. NWFP was marginalized since its inception from constitutional and administrative development.
The region was linked with guns and gun powder and the introduction of reforms is like holding match
to the gun powder. The newly formed province was not fully authorized and autonomous, but headed
by Chief Commissioner under the direct control of Governor General of India. The province was without
any Legislative authority as had the other provinces of British India. The NWFP province was restraint
from the reforms and development when it was part of the Punjab like social reform, administrative
reforms, development, prosperity etc. But soon when the reforms were suggested to the British
government and Indian territories, the educated and intellectuals of the province pull socks for the
introduction of legislative , administrative and constitutional arrangements to the province and used
their influence in the British Indian government.

CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS

The NWFP province was initially kept out from the initial reforms in the British India. The Morley-Minto
reforms of 1909 allowed limited consultation and involvement of Indians in local matters and also
introduced separate electorate system for Muslims of India. The Montague-Chelmsford reforms of 1919
introduced diarchy system in other provinces of India. But, NWFP was deprived of all such reforms. The
first administrative and constitutional reforms in NWFP with the Bray Committee of 1922.

 BRAY COMMITTEE-- In 1924 a committed headed by Sir Dennys was appointed to

report on the administration of NWFP and also examine the working of the province since its inception in
1901. The committee also reconsider the r-amalgamation of NWFP with Punjab and also the extensions of
reforms like Montague-Chelmsford reforms to the province.
The committee consists of:

 3 Europeans
 3 Muslims
 2 Hindus

The committee submitted its report in March 1924 after visiting the province and meet with the local
intellectuals and leaders.

The committee recommended for:

 a Legislative Council with an elective majority, it included a Minister, and an executive Council
and,
 full provision for the introduction of adequate safeguards for the interests of the non-Muslim
minority and for the paramount interest of all India.
  SIMON COMMISSION 1928-- The second important advancement was of the
Simon commission of 1928 , regarding the conditional changes in the NWFP.
According to the Indian constitutional act , it was made mandatory that after every ten years a
commission will be set up which will examine the constitutional changes, will suggest
recommendations and the constitutional developments will be brought according to the Indian
interests. But the controversies came when the commission was set up by the British and no
Indian representative was included. The commission reports were rejected by all parties of sub
continent. But the same commission visited the NWFP, to investigate and make suggestions
regarding constitutional changes. The Simon Commission Report was published in May 1930. It
recommended:
The two committees of the commission that were Indian Central Committee and Statutory
Committee arrived in NWFP in NWFP and discussed the constitutional and administrative issues
with the notable local leaders. The Simon Commission Report was published in May 1930 which
recommends:
 Legislative Council for province having 40 members and assigned power of legislation,
interpolation and discussions of resolution but the executive responsibilities will be with the
Chief Commissioner.
 The legislative council will consist of both elected and nominated members ex-soldiers,
representatives of khans from special constituency, members elected by municipalities and
border districts etc. and nominated members selected by the Chief Commissioner select from
both officials and non-officials.
 The Indian Central Committee recommended 3 Muslims and 1 Hindu to discuss issues of all
India.
 ROUNDS TABLE CINFERENCES-- NWFP was included in the agenda of the
three round table conferences , which was arranged after the failure of Simon commission,
members and representatives of the native Indian people were invited to India, the matters of
NWFP were also discussed regarding the minorities representation , separate electorates and
the amalgamation of NWFP with Punjab 1930-1932.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1935-- The Government of India Act

was extended to the Frontier Province as the status of the province had been raised to that of a
Governor’s province.
More constitutional reforms were introduced in the province on the same footing as in the rest of the
governor’s provinces in India.
• The status of a legislative council was raised to that of the legislative assembly.
• The number of its members was raised from forty to fifty.
• Nomination of the members was abolished; all members were now to be elected.
The allocation of the seats was: Muslim 36, General 9; Sikhs 3, and landlords 2.