The British Parliament passed a total of four Charter Acts between 1793 and 1853, which were the Charter Act 1793, the Charter Act 1813, the Charter Act 1833, the last of all the Act was the Charter Act 1853. It was a key turning point in the constitution. The Charter Act of 1853 was passed so that the British government could establish direct sovereignty in India in the future. Within five years of passing the Charter Act of 1853, the British East India Company fell.
Since the Charter Act of 1853 did not grant the East India Company the right to rule for the next 20 years, the lower house of the British Parliament easily abolished company rule in India formally through the Government of India Act on August 2, 1858. Additionally, it was quite logical to blame the Indian Rebellion of 1857 as the immediate cause behind the end of company rule.
Background of Charter Act 1853
- The East India Company was a business entity. Along with trade and commerce, their goal was to expand imperialism through successive conquests of Indian territories. From 1773-1853, British colonial establishments had expanded over such a vast area that managing this enormous territory through the East India company’s administrative framework was not sufficiently effective. Even some Indian intellectuals, various British officials, and some Indian reformers had become vocal in demanding administrative reforms to free themselves from the company’s anarchic and discriminatory behavior.
- When the company’s commercial rights were completely removed by the Charter Act of 1833, the British government was forced to consider whether East India Company could be given any administrative responsibilities. In this crisis, although the British Parliament reconsidered the role of the East India Company and enacted the Charter Act of 1853, this time there was no provision for renewal for the next 20 years.
You can also read about the Regulating Act 1773: Purpose and Impact of this Act.
Features of Charter Act 1853
- The East India Company was still able to utilize its administrative power in India, but no time frame was given for this power. This made it the final Charter Act.
- The separation of the executive and legislative functions of the government of British India progressed with the inclusion of six additional members for legislative purposes.
- The legislative body of India introduced local representation. The local governments of Madras, Bombay, Bengal, and Agra appointed four members out of the six new legislative members of the governor general’s council.
- The law member becomes the full member of the governor general’s executive council.
- It created a system of open competition for civil servant recruitment and selection. Thus, the Indians were likewise allowed to become members of the covenanted civil service.
- As a result, the Indian Civil Service Committee, known as the Macaulay Committee, was established in 1854.
- Members of the Board of Directors have been reduced from 24 members to 18 members. Among those members, the British Crown would nominate six members.
- Only for the Bengal Presidency, a Lieutenant Governor was chosen. This position would be appointed by the Court of Directors.
- The Governor General’s approval was made mandatory for any law-making process.
- The Governor General’s Council was reconstituted by this act, and the number of members increased from six to twelve. The local governments of Bengal, Bombay, Madras, and North Western Provinces appointed the twelve members. Those members are one governor general, one commander-in-chief, four members of the governor general’s council, one chief justice of the Supreme Court of Calcutta, one regular judge of the Supreme Court of Calcutta, and four representative members chosen from among the company’s employees with at least ten years of service.
- Stated differently, it created a distinct legislative council for the governor-general, It was thereafter considered as the Indian (central) legislative council. Following the same procedures as the British parliament, this council’s legislative branch operated as a mini-parliament. As an outcome, legislation was for the first time considered a special activity of government that required unique equipment and procedures.
- The Charter Act of 1853 initiated the Indian parliamentary system by separating the legislative department of the Governor General’s Council from the executive department.
- The company was allowed to retain power in British-controlled territories in India. However, it would exercise this right “on behalf of the Queen of England and her successors until the British Parliament makes any other arrangement.”
You can also read about the Doctrine of Lapse Policy: Impact on India’s Princely States.
Importance of Charter Act 1853
- The final Charter Act had special significance because, as it did not set any time limit for the Company’s rule in India, it indicated that the transfer of India’s administrative power from the Company to the British government was just a matter of time. By separating the legislative department from the administrative department in the Governor-General’s Legislative Council, this Act initiated the foundation of the parliamentary system of governance in this country. However, due to the absence of any Indian members in the Governor-General’s Legislative Council, there was growing discontent among Indians.
Conclusion
Despite enacting successive laws and Charter Acts from 1773 to 1858 to control company rule, the British government could not stop corruption and misgovernance. Therefore, East India Company was abolished through the Government of India Act of 1858, and the administration of India was taken over directly by the Viceroy in London.
