Punjab Legislative Council (British India) Explained

British Punjab Legislative Council
Coa Pic:File:Arms_of_British_Punjab.jpg
Coa Res:250px
House Type:Unicameral
Houses:Punjab Legislative Council
Term Limits:3 years
Preceded By:Lieutenant Governor's Council of British Punjab
Succeeded By:British Punjab Provincial Assembly
Leader1 Type:President
Leader3 Type:Deputy President
Leader4:Buta Singh
Seats:Total-93
Elected-71
Nominated-22
First Election1:1920
Last Election1:1930
Constitution:Government of India Act 1919

The British Punjab Legislative Council, or simply the Punjab Legislative Council, was the unicameral legislature of British Punjab, a province of the British Raj. It was established in 1921 by the British authorities under Government of India Act 1919, the council had nominal powers and a membership of mainly pro-British politicians and government officials. Voting was largely boycotted until the Government of India Act 1935 increased representation and the powers of the assembly. It was dissolved in 1936 and was succeeded by British Punjab Provincial Assembly.

The First World War gave the momentum to the growing demand for self-government in British India. Therefore, the new constitutional reforms, under the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms were introduced by British Government. The scheme was implemented through the Government of India Act 1919. The first Council was constituted on 8 January 1921 for the first time. The election for first Council was held in December 1920. 71 members were elected and 22 were nominated by Governor and the last election held in 1930 and the council disbanded in 1936[1]

Presidents

Color key for the presidential party

List of presidents

S. No.NamePartyTenure Council
1Montagu Sherard Dawes Butlerbgcolor=#DDDDDD rowspan=3Non-Partisan 8 January 192121 March 19221st
2Herbert Alexander Casson10 May 192227 October 1923
2 January 192416 January 19252nd
3Abdul Qadirbgcolor=blue rowspan=5Unionist Party 16 January 19254 September 1925
4Shahab-ud-Din Virk3 December 192527 October 1926
4 January 192726 July 19303rd
25 October 193024 July 19364th
5Chottu Ram20 October 193610 November 1936

Deputy President

CouncilNameTenure
1stMehtab Singh23 February 192124 October 1921
Manohar Lal3 November 192127 October 1923
2ndSheikh Abdul Qadir5 January 192416 January 1925
Mohinder Singh 5 March 192527 October 1926
3rdButa Singh 5 January 192721 July 1927
Habibullah21 July 192726 July 1930
4thHarbaksh Singh8 November 193017 January 1931
Buta Singh 2 March 193110 November 1936

First Council

See main article: 1920 Punjab Legislative Council election. The first Punjab Legislative Council was formed in 1921 for a three-year term. The Council had 93 members, seventy per cent of whom were elected and rest nominated.[2]

An elected president presided over meetings of the Council. The first Punjab Legislative Council held 98 meetings between 8 January 1921 and 27 October 1923.[2]

Notable members included:

Second Council

See main article: 1923 Punjab Legislative Council election. The second Legislative Council was constituted on 2 January 1924 and held 102 meetings until it was dissolved on 27 October 1926.[3]

Sir Sheikh Abdul Qadir was the first elected and the first Muslim President of this Council. He resigned in September 1925 when he was appointed Minister for Education, and was succeeded by Sir Shahab-ud-Din Virk.[3]

Notable members included:

Third Council

See main article: 1926 Punjab Legislative Council election. The third Legislative Council sat between 3 January 1927 and 26 July 1930, during which is held 111 meetings.[4] Sir Shahab-ud-Din Virk was re-elected President on 4 January 1927.[4]

Notable members included:

Fourth Council

See main article: 1930 Punjab Legislative Council election. The fourth and the last Legislative Council was constituted on 25 October 1930 and held 197 meetings until it was dissolved on 17 November 1935.[5] Sir Shahab-ud-Din Virk was reelected unopposed as President for a third term. He resigned when he was appointmed Minister for Education and was succeeded by Sir Chhotu Ram.[5]

Notable members included:

See also

Notes and References

  1. The Punjab Parliamentarians 1897-2013, Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, Lahore - Pakistan, 2015
  2. Web site: Pre Punjab First synopsis . papmis.pitb.gov.pk . 10 October 2020.
  3. Web site: Pre Punjab Second Synopsis . papmis.pitb.gov.pk . 10 October 2020.
  4. Web site: Pre Punjab Third synopsis . papmis.pitb.gov.pk . 10 October 2020.
  5. Web site: Pre Punjab Fourth synopsis . papmis.pitb.gov.pk . 10 October 2020.