CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PITT’S India ACT-1784 CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO THE PASSING OF THE ACT RELATION BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND SUPREME COURT BACKDROP OF THE MARATHA WARS DESIRE TO TRANSFER COMPANY’S POWER TO A BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

PROVISION OF THE ACT A BOARD OF CONTROL WAS ESTABLISHED WITH SIX MEMBERS.THE BOARD WAS ARMED WITH FULL POWERS OVER THE COMPANY THE COMPANY’S COURT OF DIRECTORS AND COURT OF PROPRIETORS LOST MUCH OF THEIR POWERS CREATED A SYSTEM OF DUAL GOVT. IN ENGLAND-THE BOARD OF CONTROL KEEPING A WATCH OVER THE FUNCTIONING OF THE DIRECTORS THE DIRECTORS RETAIN THE POWER OF CONTROLLING THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE COMPANY

CONT. THE STRENGTH OF GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S COUNCIL WAS REDUCED TO THREE CONTROL OVER THE MADRAS AND BOMBAY PRESIDENCIES IN ALL MATTERS OF DIPLOMACY,REVENUE AND WAR BY BENGAL PRESIDENCY WAS MADE REALISTIC THE ACT ESTABLISHED COUNCILS IN EACH PRESIDENCIES TO ASSIST THE GOVERNOR

CONT. THE ACT PROHIBITED THE COMPANY FROM PURSUING SCHEME OF CONQUEST AND EXTENSION IN INDIA PROVISION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL COURT FOR THE TRIAL OF OFFENCES BY THE COMPANY’S SERVANTS SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ACT-THE COMPANY’S TERRITORIES BECAME A PART OF BRITISH EMPIRE THE CROWN’S CONTROL OVER ALL CIVIL POLITICAL AND MILITARY AFFAIRS WAS ESTABLISHED

CONT. THE POLICY OF NON INTERVENTION WAS A NOTABLE FEATURE ALTHOUGH IT’S ACTUAL IMPLIMENTATION WAS QUESTIONABLE OVER ALL IT WAS A SINCERE ATTEMPT TO STREAMLINE COMPANY’S AFFAIR IN INDIA