Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms 1919

Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms 1919

• Edwin Montagu and Chelmsford, the Secretary of State for India and Viceroy respectively, announced their scheme of constitutional changes for India.
• Which came to be known as the Government of India Act of 1919.

Provisions

• Separating the central and provincial subjects.
• Indian Legislative council was replaced by a bicameral legislature (Upper house and a Lower house).
• For the first time direct election was introduced on the basis of property, tax or education.
• Three of Six members in Viceroy’s executive council was Indians (other than the commander in Chief).
• New Office High commissioner for India (for six years) in London was appointed (some of the secretary of state for India’s functions were transferred)
• Separate electorates extended to Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo Indians and Europeans.
• First time Provincial budget were separated from central budget.
• Women were also given the right to vote.  
• This dual scheme of governance known as “Dyarchy” introduced 
• Greek word diarche meaning double rule

Provincial subjects into two parts

Transferred subjects

• Governor with the aid of Ministers.
• Education, Health, Local Government, Industry, Agricultural, Excise, etc.

Reserved subjects

• Governor and his executive council.
• Law and Order, Finance, Land Revenue, Irrigation, etc.

• Provincial Legislative Councils were further expanded 70% of the members were to be elected.
• Establishment of a Public Service Commission in 1926 (On the recommendation of the Lee Commission (1923-1924))

Evaluation:

1. Franchise was very limited.
2. At the centre, the legislature had no control over the governor-general and his executive council.
3. The provincial ministers had no control over finances and over the bureaucrats, leading to constant friction between the two.
4. 75% of the budget was still not votable.
5. The provincial ministers had no control over finances.

• The Montford reforms- “unworthy and disappointing-a sunless dawn” – Tilak

• The Indian National Congress met in a special session at Bombay in August 1918 to discuss the scheme.
• ‘There was a group of moderate / liberal political leaders who wanted to try and work the reforms. Led by Surendranath Banerjee, they opposed the majority opinion and left the Congress to form their own party which came to be called Indian Liberal Federation.