Bengal Legislative Council বঙ্গীয় আইন পরিষদ | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1861 (1861) |
| Disbanded | 1947 (1947) |
| Succeeded by | East Bengal Legislative Assembly West Bengal Legislative Assembly |
| Meeting place | |
| Calcutta Town Hall (1919 to 1931),Calcutta,Bengal Presidency | |
TheBengal Legislative Council (Bengali:বঙ্গীয় আইন পরিষদ) was thelegislative council ofBengal Presidency.[1] It was the legislature of the Bengal Presidency during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After reforms were adopted in 1937, it served as theupper house of the Bengali legislature until thepartition of India.
The council was established under theIndian Councils Act 1861. It was dominated by Europeans and Anglo-Indians, with natives as a minority, until reforms in 1909. Under theIndian Councils Act 1892 andIndian Councils Act 1909, representatives of municipalities, district boards, city corporations, universities, ports, plantations, zamindars, Muslim electorates and chambers of commerce were inducted. Native Bengali representation gradually increased. Its voting power was limited, particularly on budgets. It was delegated "transferred subjects" of education, public health, local government, agriculture and public works; while the "reserved subjects" of finance, police, land revenue, law, justice and labour remained with the Executive Council headed by theGovernor of Bengal. Between 1905 and 1912, the council's geographical coverage was divided and partly delegated to theEastern Bengal and Assam Legislative Council. During the period ofdyarchy, the council was boycotted by theCongress Party andSwaraj Party; but constitutionalists in theBengal Provincial Muslim League continued to be active members.[2][3]
Under theGovernment of India Act 1935, the council became the upper chamber of the legislature of Bengal.[4]
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The council grew from 12 members in 1862, to 20 in 1892, 53 in 1909, 140 in 1919 and 63–65 in 1935.[5]
Under theIndian Councils Act 1861, the council included 12 members nominated by the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal. The members included four government officials, four non-governmentAnglo-Indians and four Bengali gentlemen. From 1862 to 1893, 123 persons were nominated to the council, of whom only 49 were native Indian members, 35 were members of theBritish Indian Association and 26 were aristocrats.[5]
Under theIndian Councils Act 1892 (55 & 56 Vict. c. 14), the Lieutenant Governor could nominate seven members on the recommendation of theBengal Chamber of Commerce,municipalities,district councils, theUniversity of Calcutta and the Corporation of Calcutta.[5]
Total members 20 [40% elected members] and [60% official]
Under theIndian Councils Act 1909, the council had the following composition.[3]
Under theGovernment of India Act 1919, the council had 140 members. There were 92 seats assigned to general constituencies, divided into Muslim, non-Muslim, European, and Anglo-Indian sections. Another 22 seats were assigned to special electorates, namely landholders, the two universities, and commercial interests. The remaining 26 seats were filled by government nomination.[6]
As the upper chamber under theGovernment of India Act 1935, the council had the following composition.[5]
The legislative council was initially given a three-year tenure. It became a permanent body under the Government of India Act 1935, which required one third of its members to retire.[5]
The Lieutenant Governor was the ex-officio president of the council until 1909, when the council was given the right to elect its president and deputy president.[5]
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