The Eastern Bengal and Assam Legislative Council
() was the
legislative council of
Eastern Bengal and Assam, a province of the
British India covering
Bangladesh and
Northeast India. It would meet in the Government House of
Dacca
Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city i ...
, the provincial capital. Its ex-officio head was the Lieutenant Governor of Eastern Bengal and Assam.
Constitution
The first Legislative Council was formed under the
Indian Councils Act 1892. The Lt. Governor recommended members from the recommendations of District Boards, municipalities, landlords and chambers of commerce. The Lt. Governor required the assent of the
Viceroy of India to appoint the nominees. The council was entitled to discuss budgets and make suggestions to the government, but lacked voting powers. Most members of the council were Europeans, with a minority being native Indian subjects.
Morley–Minto Reforms
The
Indian Councils Act 1909, crafted by
John Morley and
Lord Minto, ushered partially elected legislative councils. The reforms increased the representation of native subjects. Land owners received the
right to vote
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise, is the right to vote in public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally in English, the right to v ...
. Muslims were granted the right to a
separate electorate
In India, a number of political positions and university posts are held for specific groups of the population, including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and women in some cases.
There are reserved constituencies in both Parliamentary and ...
, as part of
affirmative action. The Legislative Council assembled for the purpose of making Laws and Regulations under the Provisions of the Indian Council Acts, 1861, 1892 and 1909. It advised the Executive Council of the Lt. Governor.
[Ilbert, Sir Courtenay Peregrine (1907). "Appendix II: Constitution of the Legislative Councils under the Regulations of November 1909", in The Government of India. Clarendon Press. pp. 432-5.]
Membership
The council included 41 members after the Morley-Minto Reforms. Its composition is illustrated in the following.
*Ex-officio Member
**Lieutenant Governor
*Nominated Members
**A maximum of 17 from Officials
**1 from Indian commerce
**2 from Experts
**A minimum of 2 from Others
*Elected members
**
Chittagong Port Commission
**
Municipalities
**District and
local boards
**
Landholders
**
Muhammadans
''Mohammedan'' (also spelled ''Muhammadan'', ''Mahommedan'', ''Mahomedan'' or ''Mahometan'') is a term for a follower of Muhammad, the Islamic prophet. It is used as both a noun and an adjective, meaning belonging or relating to, either Muham ...
**
Tea interest
**
Jute
Jute is a long, soft, shiny bast fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from flowering plants in the genus ''Corchorus'', which is in the mallow family Malvaceae. The primary source of the fiber is ''Corchorus olit ...
interest
Geographic coverage
East Bengal had the most seats on the council due to its large population. Colonial Assam, which covers the Indian states of
Assam,
Meghalaya,
Nagaland,
Mizoram and
Arunachal Pradesh; had 5 seats on the 41-member council due to its smaller population.
See also
*
Legislatures of British India
The Legislatures of British India included legislative bodies in the presidencies and provinces of British India, the Imperial Legislative Council, the Chamber of Princes and the Central Legislative Assembly. The legislatures were created under Ac ...
References
{{reflist
1906 establishments in British India
1912 disestablishments in British India
Northeast India
Historical legislatures in Bangladesh
Defunct upper houses in India
Bengal Presidency
History of Assam