Circumstances for the Passing of the Government of India Act 1935

Circumstances for the Passing of the Government of India Act,1935

1.         The nationalists were disappointed with the provision of the Government of India Act, 1919. This did not provide responsible Central Government, and dyarchy in provinces did not mean the transfer of power of Indian hands. The Reforms of 1919 were in the nature  of half-way house. The Constitutional Concession continued in the Act, 1919were considered as totally inadequate, unsatisfactory and disappointing. The Congress asked the British Government to take early steps to establish full responsible Government in   India in accordance with the principle of self Determination the Congress resolved to work for reform 'fifty fair as may to possible. With a being about the early establishment            responsible Government in India'.

2.         Augitations had been going on against the British Government which started the hopes of  the Indians of self government. in order to curb such lawlessness. The government armed  itself with vast police and executive powers   under the Provisions powers of Rawlett   Act the peaceful and unarmed Indians were mercilessly massacred at Jallianwala Bagh    in Punjab on 13 April. 1919. It caused a great stir among the people of India.

3.         Mahatma Gandhi. Disgusted with the British savagery, moved a revolution at Calcutta           session at the Indian National Congress to launch non-cooperation moment, in the mean Time the Conges had given new slogan to the mess, namely 'swaraj 'as a ultimate goal      of freedom struggle.

4.         The Swaraj Party founded by C. R. Das and   Motilal Nehru resolved to wreck the       legislature from within. There policy of uniform. Continious and constant obstruction      breakdown the working of dyarchy and the British were put to much trouble.

Simon Commission

5.         Section 84-A of the Government of India Act 1919 provided for appointment with in  years of its passage of Commission of inquiry inter-all into the development of  representative institutions in British India. This Commission setup in 1927 came to be        known as the Simon Commission. It was comprised by seven British members without  Indian representatives. This Commission was boycotted by most of the political parties  including the National Congress. The Commission under the Chairmanship of Sir John      Simon contained the following recommendations:

            i)         The Constitution must be framed in such away so that the self development of the  Country was possible.

            ii)        The main object behind any proposal for constitutional amendments, was to  maintain the sovereignty of British Indian.

            iii)       The Country should become a member of Common Wealth of Nations.

            iv)       The Dyarchy should be abolished and also the limits on Indian ministers be reduced.

            v)         Ministers should be responsible to the Legislature, They should be chosen from the majority.

            vi)       The Provincial administration should be put under the control of the Provincial  Cabinet.

            vii)      Burma was to be given a separate new entity, Politically as well as  Geographically.

            viii)     The Legislative Assembly was given the new name 'Federal Assembly'.

            ix)       The Governor-General -in- Council was to be continued as the Central body.

            The report of the Simon Commission not only failed pacify the Indian National opinion, but it also offended conservative opinion in the United Kingdom as dangerously    generous. However most of its recommendations were in-cooperated in the Government  of India Act, 1935.

6.         Asa challenge of the Simon Commission all parties conference appointed a Committed      under the presidentship of Motilal Nehru known as "Nehru Committee". Its        recommendations were: (i) Dominion status for India; (ii) Provincial Autonomy; (iii)      Creation of New Provinces;

(iv) Fundamental Rights;

(v) The Central Legislature and  Executive;

(vi) Indian Status;

(vii) Rejection of Communal electorate.

7.         Mr Jinneh the leader of the Muslim League put forward own minimum demands acceptable of to muslin for any political settlement He adequate safeguards interest of the Muslim future constitutional setup in India.

8.         After the publication of Simon Commission   Report, the British Government called the  First Round Table Conference in London on 12-12-1930. As the Congress leaders were in        prison, the Government men belonging to yes-men to represent India. After prolonged deliberations, they felt need of Indian National Congress being represented in the  constitutional talks. The Second Round Table conference (which was held from 7-9-1931   to 1-12-1931) as attended by Gandhi as the sole representative of the Congress. As all    agreed to the arbitration of Ramsey MacDonald, The Prime minister of England, he gave           communal award of 16th August 1932 Gandhiji underlook a fast onto death. his life was        saved by the compromise arrived at by the Indian leaders at by the pona pact. The Third             Round Table conference was held between 7-11-1932 and 24-12 -1932. The congress did    not Attained the conference, the delegates of the conference discussed the reports of   various committees appointed by the earlier conference. And finalised few more points. 

            After finalizing the entire scheme regarding the feature constitutional of India, the British  government issued the 'white paper of 1933' on it. This report in detail the working basis        of the new constitution with a dyarchy at the center, and a responsible government in the  provision. The Indian public opinion commended 'white paper.

10.       despite the criticism, the British government referred the paper to the Joint Select Committee of the British Parliament. The Committee headed by Linlithgow, had 32  members, 16 from the House of Lords an d16 from the House of Commons. The             Committee submitted its report on 22nd November, 1934. On the recommendation of the  Joint Selection Committee the bill was drafted and introduced in House of Commons in February, 1935. The bill received the final assent on 2nd August, 1935. And became      famous as "The Government of India Act 1935".