Evolution of Indian Constitution

Charter Act of 1793

Ø  Main provisions of the previous Acts were consolidated in this Act.

Ø  Provided for the payment of salaries of the members of the Board of Controllers from Indian revenue.

Ø  Courts were given the power to interpret rules and regulations.

Charter Act of 1813

Ø  Trade monopoly of the East India Company came to an end.

Ø  Powers of the three Councils of Madras, Bombay and Calcutta were enlarged; they were also subjected to greater control of the British Parliament.

Ø  The Christian Missionaries were allowed to spread their religion in India.

Ø  Local autonomous bodies were empowered to levy taxes.

Charter Act of 1833

Ø  The Governor General and his Council were given vast powers. This Council could legislate for the whole of India subject to the approval of the Board of Controllers.

Ø  The council got full powers regarding revenue, and a single budget for the country was prepared by the Governor General.

Ø  The East India Company was reduced to an administrative and political entity and several Lords and Ministers were nominated as ex-officio members of the Board of Controllers.

Ø  For the first time the Governor- General’s Government was known as the ‘Government of India’ and his Council as the ‘Indian Council’.

Charter Act of 1853

Ø  This was the last of the Charter Acts and it made important changes in the system of Indian legislation.

Ø  This Act followed a report of the then Governor General Dalhousie for improving the administration of the company.

Ø  A separate Governor for Bengal was to be appointed.

Ø  Legislative and administrative functions of the Council were separately identified.

Ø  Recruitment of the Company’s employees was to be done through competitive exams.

Ø  British parliament was empowered to put company’s governance of India to an end at any suitable time.