jan 1, 1853 - Charters Act 1853

Description:

Acronymn JP.Narayan 53 YO

Civil Services for all, leading to a competitive environment.
Macauley Committee was appointed.

Did not mention the time period for which the company charter was being renewed.

For the first time, local/ provincial government was introduced

Separated legislative and executive funtions.

Law Commissions act come into play:
1851- CPC (Civil Procedure Code)
1860- IPC
1861- CrPC(Criminal Porcedure Code)

Also, Indian Legislative Council was formed with 6 members out of which 4 are native indians.

The Charter Act 1853 was passed in the British Parliament to renew the East India Company’s charter. Unlike the previous charter acts of 1793, 1813 and 1833 which renewed the charter for 20 years; this act did not mention the time period for which the company charter was being renewed. This Act was passed when Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General of India.

Features of the Charter Act 1853
1)With the help of the Charter Act 1853, it was made possible that the functions of the legislative and executive councils were separated from each other.

2) The Charter Act of 1853 captioned the foundation of the contemporary kind of Parliamentary form of government.

3) The threshold of time was removed from the act that was previously present in the previous Charter Acts. Thus, it extended the rule of the EIC for an indefinite period.

4) The number of Board of Directors was decreased to six, where all of these members were crown-nominated.

5) The Charter Act of 1853 ended the policy of providing government jobs only based on recommendations. Now, Indians were too open for the posts under the Civil Services of India, leading to a competitive environment.

6) It was the first time in many years that the system of local government was introduced by the Britishers and furthered its representation in the legislative council. Notably, the members were from Madras, Bengal, Bombay, and certain areas of North Western Province.



Provisions under the Charter Act of 1853
1) Reduction in the number of Board of Directors
Initially, the council had 24 board of directors guiding through all the issues. However, it was with the Charter Act of 1853 that the number of BOD was reduced from 24 to 18 and then to 6. One of the most important conditions was that these six members should be covered under the Crown rule and that all of them be crown-nominated.

2) Power for bringing a New Presidency
It was with the Charter Act 1853 that the concept of establishing different presidencies came into being. The Act authorized the Court of Directors to appoint a Lieutenant Governor (LG) for the state of Punjab. So, it was in 1859, that a new presidency was initiated.

3) Opening Civil Services for all
One of the most notable aspects covered under the Charter Act of 1853 was the opening of civil services for all the Indian people. The Charter Act of 1853 ended the policy of providing government jobs only based on recommendations. Now, Indians were too open for the posts under the Civil Services of India, leading to a competitive environment.

4) Expansion of Governor-General Council
For the first time, the charter act had its emphasis on the development of the Governor-General’s Office. Now, the functions of the council were separated into two different levels: legislative and executive. Previously, the council had a total of six members, but that too had a growth from six to twelve.

Conclusion
The Charter Act 1853 was the definitive one in the continuation of Charter Acts authorized under the Company’s rule. It was considered as one of the most remarkable acts of all time from 1773-1858. It was only under the Charter Act 1853, that the concept of provincial representation came into being under the Legislative Council. The threshold of time was removed from the act that was previously present in the previous Charter Acts. Thus, it extended the rule of the EIC for an indefinite period.

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