Morley-Minto Reforms

Morley-Minto Reforms is one of the most notable ordinances that have been passed by the British Parliament so far. It was named after the then Secretary of State for India, Lord Morley, and the then Viceroy of India, Lord Minto. Both of them introduced various absolute and supreme modifications in the system. 

Morley-Minto Reforms were majorly an amendment to the Indian council acts of 1861 and 1862. It aimed at appeasing the moderates of the congress. Further, it also aspired to increase the participation of Indians in the legislative council. The most notable feature of this act is the introduction of the concept of a separate electorate under this Act. 

Morley-Minto Reforms introduced the concept of elections for the Indians who could now vote as well, but that too was dependent on the tax that the person pays to the government. Apart from that, the separate electorate for Muslims created a feeling of resentment in the Hindus and the people other than that. 

What is the Background of the Indian Council Act of 1909?

The Indian Council Act of 1892 failed to fulfill the necessary intentions of the Indian National Congress. Queen Victoria too didn’t stand up to the expectations of the people of India, as her promise of providing an equal chance to the Indians didn’t go well. Indeed, Indians got an opportunity but it was only of a limited extent in nature. 

It was also noted by the Indian National Congress that various difficulties were faced by the Indians to enter various governmental posts. So, in the context of this, the Indian National Congress asked and urged an increase in the number of Indians in the legislative council and should have a role on how things should work in their country. 

Side by Side, the expansion of the extremists presented dangers for the moderates. So, reforms were required to placate the moderates. After all, that was going on in the country, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, on the behalf of INC, visited Lord Morley and made a plea for the prelude of self-government in the country. Muslims too visited the then Viceroy of India, Lord Minto, to discuss separate electorates for the Muslims of India. So, Morley and Minto decided to bring in some reforms in the country with the help of Morley-Minto Reforms. 

What were the main provisions of the Morley-Minto reforms? 

• With the Morley-Minto Act, there was an increase in the size of the legislative councils at both the center and the provincial levels. On one hand, the number of members that were there in the Central legislative councils changed from 16 to 60. On the other hand, in the case of provincial councils, the number varied from province to province. 
• Official majority was retained for the Central Legislative Council, but the provincial councils had only a non-official majority in their work. 
• The parts and functions of the legislative councils were enlarged at both the central and the provincial levels. The council could now ask queries, pass resolutions, ask additional questions and vote for separate items for the budget of the country. 
• Indians were now made associated with the executive councils of the state. Notably, Satyendra Prasad Sinha was the first Indian who was nominated and appointed under the Viceroy’s Executive Council as a law member. 
• The concept of communal representation was introduced by the British rulers under this act where they introduced a separate electorate for the Muslims. In this way, Britishers sowed the seeds of communalism in India whose fruit we can see as Pakistan today. This is why Lord Minto is referred to as the Father of Communal Electorate today. 
• The Morley-Minto Reforms also paved the direction for the independent representation of the chamber of commerce, the presidency corporations, zamindars and universities. 

Conclusion

Even if there was improvement up to a certain extent in the increased participation of the Indians in the legislative council, the act still has numerous flaws in it. One of the most notable is the communal representation, which we can even see in today’s time as well. 

The process of a Separate electorate relieved the Muslims but weakened the Indian National Movement. As a result, we were able to see the outcomes of this system with the division of the country based on communal lines. Apart from that, Morley-Minto Reforms too failed to bring the system of self-government.