1909 Council Act 123456

1909 Indian Councils Act
or
Minto-Morely Reforms
Governor General from 1894-1910
• Lord Elgin 1894-1899

• Lord Curzon 1899-1905
• Lord Minto 1905-1910
• Political awakening of India

• Demands of Indian National Congress
• Separation of Bengal
• Extremists activities
• Formation of Muslim League
• To satisfy moderates
• To isolate Muslims from the rest of India
3
In view of the Government of India was the
territorial representation was not suitable to
the people of India.
Instead of territorial representation they

introduced separate electorates for the
different communities and classes in the
presidencies.
4
Changes in Executive Council
5
The provided for the first time the appointment
of Indians to Indian Council and Governor
General Council.
Indian Council
• Mr. K.C Gupta, a Hindu civilian
• Syed Hussain Bilgrami, the Principal Adviser of
Nizam of Hyderabad.
Governor General Council
Lord S.P.Sinha,
The Advocate General of Bengal appointed as a
Law-Member of the Government.
6
The size of the Legislative Councils was enlarged
by according more representation to the various
classes of persons and bodies.
In the case of Governor General Council the total

membership was raised from 16 to 60.
The Central Legislative Council was to consist of
37 official and 32 non-officials.
Out of 37 officials, 28 were to be nominated by

the Governor General and the rest were to be
ex-officio.
The ex-officio members were to be the Governor

General, and 7 council members and Governor
of the province where meeting took place.
Out of 32 non-official members, 5 were to be

nominated by the Governor General and the
rest were to be elected.
Central Legislative Council
60+9=69
Officials Non official
37 32
Ex-officio Nominated Elected Nominated
9 28 27 5
General Electorates 13
Class Electorates 6
Special Electorates 2
Muslims Electorates 6
9
General Electorates: 13 members from all (ten)
provinces
Class Electorates: 6 Landlords constituencies of
provinces
Special Electorates: 2 from Presidency Corporation,
Chamber of Commerce
Muslim Electorates: 6 Muslim members including two
from Bengal, and each from Bombay, Madras,
Bihar-Orrisa and United provinces
Nominated officials: I.C.S officers
10
Voters and Qualification
• Only the land with specified income or minimum

land revenue payment of Rs. 10,000 and more or
with high title or honorary officers were
conferred voting right.
• Raja and Nawab in Bengal and Honorary
magistrate
• the number of voters in a constituency did not
exceed nine or ten.
11
The Council could not be allowed to discuss
political and military affairs.
The resolutions on matters of general public could

be discussed in the Supreme Council with a
prior notice of 15 days.
The President could disallow any resolution or a part

of a resolution without giving any reason.
12
Provincial Legislature
13
The maximum number of members of the
Provincial Council of Bengal, Bombay and
Madras was raised from 20 to 50 members.
The majority of the members were to be non-

officials in the Presidencies i.e. (35+15). Some
of the non-officials were to be nominated by
the Governor.
Instead of territorial representation they

introduced separate electorates for the
different communities and classes in the
presidencies.
The people elected the members for their local
bodies like municipalities, Land lords, district
Boards and Muslims.
These local bodies in turn elected the members for
Provincial Legislative Councils, further chose the
members for the Supreme Legislative Council.
Supreme Legislative Council

Provincial Legislative Councils
landlords, District Boards and Municipalities,
Muslims and Chambers of Commerce.
Voters
15
Province Ex-officio Nominated elected expert total
Bombay 5 20 (16) 28 2 55
Madras 5 21(16) 21 2 49
Bombay 5 21 ( 15) 21 2 49
U.Pro 1 26( 20) 21 2 50
Bihar 4 19 (15) 21 1 45
16
Ex-officio members ( Governor General and Council)
who by virtue of office held by them in the government
were to be given membership.
Nominated officials I.C.S officers
The Governor General was empowered to nominate civil
servants as members.
Nominated non-officials
The Governor General was empowered to nominate certain
persons from public life who did not hold any office under
the Government.
The Elected members
Those who were elected on basis of elections, namely,
members from provinces, Chambers of Commerce(
Bombay and Calcutta), Muslims, Municipalities, District
Boards and landlord class etc.
Enlargement of the functions of legislative
councils
• The Act gave powers to the members to move
resolutions relating to loan to local bodies,
• additional grants and new tax proposals,
• on certain matters no right to discussion was
made available. (External policy, relations with
Indian rulers)
• The members were also empowered to discuss

and move resolutions relating to matter of public
interest.
• .
Changes in the electoral system :There were three types
of electorates
General Electorates: Consisting of non-officials

members either of Provincial legislative Councils
or of Municipal and District Boards.
Class Electorates: Consisting of landlords and

Mohammedans.
Special Electorates: Consisting of Presidency

Corporations, Universities, Chamber of Commerce
and trade and business interests.

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1909 Council Act 123456

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1909 Indian Councils Act

• Lord Elgin 1894-1899

• Political awakening of India

Instead of territorial representation they

In the case of Governor General Council the total

Out of 37 officials, 28 were to be nominated by

The ex-officio members were to be the Governor

Out of 32 non-official members, 5 were to be

• Only the land with specified income or minimum

The resolutions on matters of general public could

The President could disallow any resolution or a part

The majority of the members were to be non-

Instead of territorial representation they

Supreme Legislative Council

• The members were also empowered to discuss

General Electorates: Consisting of non-officials

Class Electorates: Consisting of landlords and

Special Electorates: Consisting of Presidency

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