1853 Charter Act

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The Act renewed the powers of the Company
and allowed it to retain processions over
Indian territories in trust for Her
Majesty, her heirs and successors.

The number of Court of Directors was

reduced to 18, of whom six were to be
appointed by the Crown from among the
Indian servants.

The Act also empowered Court of directors to

create a new Presidency and alter the
boundaries of the Presidencies in India.
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The Act created a separate Legislative
Council for India for the first time.

The law member of the Governor Council was

given the rank of a full-fledged member in
the Council.

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The Charter Act of 1853 increased the number
of legislative council members.
The new legislative Council was consisted of 12
members.
1. Governor General (1)
2. Governor General Council (4)
3. Commander-in-Chief (1)
4. Four representatives from providences (4)
5. Chief Justice of Supreme Court Justice (1)
6. A regular judge from Supreme Court to be
named by Governor General. (1)
Governor General presided over the all meetings.
The Act empowered the Governor General to
reject any proposal of the Council.
But, had no power to pass the legislation
which was dissented by the majority of
the Council.
The procedure of the Legislative Council was
modeled more or less on the line of the
British Parliament.
The Act authorized the Crown to appoint a
Law Commission in England to examine the
work and recommendations of First Law
Commission.
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A separate Governor appointed for
Presidency of Bengal.
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1858 Act

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Dalhousie policy of frequent wars and
annexation policy created discontentment
among the army as well as the native rules of
India.
The presidency governments were also not happy
about centralization of legislative powers in
the Governor General-in-Council.
Transfer of Power
The process of transfer of power from the
Company to the Crown had already began even
since the enactment of first Charter Act.
• 1600-1772
• 1773, 1784, 1793, 1813, 1833 and 1853 10
Government of India Act 1858

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Company’s territories in India placed under the
direct rule of Crown.
Governor General of India received the title
of Viceroy and he became direct
representative of Crown.

The Act introduced two important changes

1. Home Government
2.The Government of India
Changes in Home Government

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The Act abolished the both, the Board of
Control and Court of Directors.
A Special Secretary of State appointed for
Indian affairs and all powers transferred
to him.
A fifteen members Council created in England
to assist Secretary of State for Indian
affairs.
Eight out of fifteen members of this Council
of India were appointed by the Crown and
rest of seven were to be elected by the
Court of Directors.
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• The Council was to meet at lest once in a
week and its quorum was five.

• The secretary of State was required to

place a financial statement of expenditure
and revenues before the Parliament every
year.

• He was also had to report on the moral and

material progress of the Country.

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Changes in Government of India

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The Governor General of India and
Governors of the presidencies were to be
appointed by the Crown and members of
the Councils by the Secretary of State
for Indian affairs.

The military and naval forces of the

Company were transferred to the Crown.

All treaties made by the Company were to

be binding on the Crown.
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