Morley-Minto Act – 1909

Morley-Minto Act – 1909: The Indian Councils Act of 1909 was also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, after Lord John Morley, the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs, and Lord Minto, the Viceroy. In an effort to broaden the purview of the Legislative Councils, appease the demands of the moderates within the Indian National Congress, and boost Indian participation in administration, it first adopted the electoral system. The Indian Council Acts of 1861 and 1892 were modified by the Act.

Background of the Morley-Minto Act

• In October 1906, a group of Muslim elites called the Shimla Deputation led by the Aga Khan met Lord Minto and demanded a separate electorate for Muslims and greater representation than their numbers in view of the ‘value of contribution’ of. ‘To create for the defense of the empire.
• The same group quickly took on the Muslim League, initially launched by Nawab Sali mullah of Dhaka in December 1906 with Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk and Waqar-ul-Mulk.
•  The Muslim League was intended to preach loyalty to the empire and keep Muslim intellectuals away from the Congress.
• John Morley, the Liberal Secretary of State for India and the Conservative Viceroy of India, believed that Minto was necessary to quell the rebellion in Bengal, not enough to restore stability. But after the partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon to the British Raj, he believed that a dramatic step was needed to woo the loyalist elements of the Indian upper classes and the growing western part of the population.

Features of the Act

•  It significantly increased the size of both the Central and Provincial Legislative Councils. The number of members in the Central Legislative Council was increased from 16 to 60. The number of members in the provincial legislative councils was not equal.
•  It retained the official majority in the Central Legislative Council but allowed the provincial Legislative Councils to have non-official majority.
•  The elected members were to be elected indirectly. The local bodies were to elect an electoral college, which woulin turn elect members of the provincial legislatures, which in turn would elect members of the central legislature.
• • It expanded the deliberative functions of the Legislative Councils at both levels. For example, members were allowed to ask supplementary questions, move motions on the budget, etc.
• It provided (for the first time) for the association of Indians with the executive councils of the Viceroy and Governors. Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the first Indian to join the Viceroy’s Executive Council. He was appointed as Law Member. Two Indians were nominated to the Council of the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs.
• It introduced a system of communal representation for Muslims by accepting the concept of ‘separate electorates’. Under this, Muslim members were to be elected only by Muslim voters. Thus, the Act ‘legalized communalism’ and Lord Minto came to be known as the father of communal voters.
•  It also provided for separate representation of Presidency Corporations, Chambers of Commerce, Universities and Landlords. Cad evaluation of reforms
•  There was no answer to the reforms of 1909 and could not provide any answer to the Indian political problem. Lord Morley made it clear that colonial self-government (as Congress had demanded) was not suitable for India, and he was against the introduction of parliamentary or responsible government in India.
•  The ‘constitutional’ reforms were, in fact, aimed at dividing the nationalist ranks by confusing the moderates and preventing the development of unity among Indians through the unpleasant instrument of separate electorates.
•  The government aimed to unite moderates and Muslims against the rising tide of nationalism. • Officials and Muslim leaders often talked about the entire community when they talked about separate electorates, but in reality it meant appeasing only a small section of the Muslim elite.

•  Congress considered separate electorates as undemocratic and a common Hindu-Muslim Indian national sentiment.Was hindering the development.
•  Moreover, the electoral system was very indirect and gave the impression of infiltration of MLAs through many filters.
•  And, while parliamentary forms were introduced, no responsibility was accepted, leading to sometimes thoughtless and irresponsible criticism of the government.
•  Only a few members, like Gokhale, made constructive use of the opportunity for debate in the Councils by demanding universal primary education, attacking repressive policies and drawing attention to the plight of indentured laborers and Indian workers in South Africa.
• The position of the Governor General remained unchanged, and his veto power remained unquestioned, and the Act successfully maintained unfettered constitutional autocracy.
• The reforms of 1909 gave the people of the country a shadow rather than an essence.The Act of 1909 was important for the following reasons:
• It allowed for the first time the election of Indians to various Legislative Councils in India, although earlier some Indians had been appointed to the Legislative Councils.
• The introduction of the electoral principle laid the groundwork for the parliamentary system, even though it was contrary to Morley’s intention.
• It also for the first time recognized the principle of alternative as the basis for the composition of the Legislative Council.
• It gave Indians some more avenues to express their grievances.

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