The Charter Act of 1853 and The Central Administration in India: An Analysis

Abstract

The Charter Act of 1853, was the last of the series of Charter Acts passed by the British Parliament to change the East India Company's administration in India. At the time of the renewal of the Act in 1853, a regular demand was made by the Indians that the system of the Double Government introduced by Pitt's India Act should be abolished and that the Indian affairs should be brought under the charge of a Secretary of State assisted by a council of experts. It is also pointed out in the representation signed by a large number of Indians and submitted to the Parliament that, the pledge given regarding the appointment of Indians to higher jobs, had not been carried out in practice. It was demanded that the Indian Civil Service Examination should be thrown open to the public.

Different Political Associations in Bengal Presidency Association, British Indian Association, Bombay Presidency Association, Madras Association were demanded for the revision of India Council.

In England, conflicting views were expressed concerning the nature of change in the administration. Some persons were sympathetic to the Indian aspirations, others opposed it tooth and nail, while a third group was inclined to have some consultative boards of Indians. But Charles Wood, who was to take the final decision of the matter was influenced by the opinion of the second group and said in his speech in the House of Commons on 3rd June 1853, "it would be not desirable to place natives in the council." 56