3.4 Pitts India Act of 1784
Pitts India Act of 1784
2021-07-05 09:33
- passed to rectify defects of 1773 Act.
Features of Pitt’s India Act of 1784
- Distinguished between commercial and political functions
- Court of Directors to manage commercial affairs
- New body called Board of Control of 6 mem to manage the political affairs include secy of state, chancellor, exchequer and 4 privy councillors -> this estd a type of double government
- Board of Control to supervise and direct all operations of the civil, military government and revenues
- first time called territories of the company as 'British Possessions in India' and British gov was given supreme control over Company's affairs and administration
- Order of BoC binding on CoD
- CoD retain commerce and patronage
- A type of a govt placed under GG + council of 3 all subordinate to CoD and BoC
- Clear hierarchy of command and more direct parliamentary control
- Coy territorial possession not touched
Defects
- 2 masters BoC, CoD -> meant that GG could play them against each other
Act of 1786
- Combined GG + Commander in Chief, Warren Hastings became 1st
- could override the decision of his executive council.
Charter Act of 1793
- presided by William Wilberforce
- Renewed company's commercial privileges for next 20 years
- GG got elaborate powers, Go Bombay and Go Madras more decisively under its control
- EIC was to pay 5 lakh pounds annually to the gov
- Royal approval mandated for appointment of GG, Governors and Commander in Chief
- Senior official debarred from leaving India without permission would be treated as resignation
- Company could give licences to individuals to employees for trade in India was known as 'Privilege' and 'Country trade'
- Revenue administration was separated from judiciary
- Home government members to be paid out of Indian revenues.
- Code of all regulations (enacted for internal govt) applied to all rights, persons and property
- Translate all laws -> intro concept of civil law
Charter Act of 1813 Features
- Ended the Monopoly of EIC except in China and Tea trade in India
- Christian Missionaries got permission to go to India for moral and religious improvements with a license
- regulated the territorial revenues and commercial profits by keeping separate accounts for them
- Company debt was to be reduce and divident fixed at 10.5% pa
- Company was to invest 1 lakh every year for education of the Indians
- Empowered local government to put taxes on person under jurisdiction of Supreme Court
- Influenced by free traders, Benthamite reformists, Evangelicals
- Charles Grant presided