Q. Which of the following statements regarding the powers of the Legislature in British India is/ are correct?
1. The Indian Councils Act of 1861 empowered the legislature to discuss and vote upon selected items of the budget for the first time.
2. The members were allowed to ask supplementary questions for the first time by the Indian Councils Act, 1909.
3. The Government of India Act of 1919 gave the legislators the right to move adjournment motions and raise urgent issues of public interest.
Select the correct option using the code given below:
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Indian Councils Act, 1861 was the first time that a legislative council was formed in British India. Its powers were limited and it could not raise questions, let alone vote on administrative or financial matters to the executive.
Statement 2 is correct: The Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) further expanded the powers and functions of the British Indian legislature. The members could interpellate and further question the executive for their acts through supplementary questions (allowed for the first time).
Statement 3 is correct: Government of India Act, 1919 (Montague-Chelmsford reforms) substantially increased the powers of legislatures in British India. Unlike the beginning when the legislature could not even question the executive, now the members of legislature could bring an adjournment motion (important tool for censure of executive) to disrupt the normal business to discuss urgent matters of public interest.
