Punjab Legislative Council (British India)

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 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.

British Punjab Legislative Council
Type
Type
HousesPunjab Legislative Council
Term limits
3 years
History
Founded8 January 1921 (1921-01-08)
Disbanded10 November 1936 (1936-011-10)
Preceded byLieutenant Governor's Council of British Punjab
Succeeded byBritish Punjab Provincial Assembly
Leadership
President
Chottu Ram (Last)
Deputy President
Mehtab Singh (First)
Buta Singh (Last)
SeatsTotal-93
Elected-71
Nominated-22
Elections
First election
1920
Last election
1930
Constitution
Government of India Act 1919

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

  •   Non-Partisan
  •   Unionist Party

List of presidents

S. No. Name Party Tenure Council
1 Montagu Sherard Dawes Butler Non-Partisan 8 January 1921 21 March 1922 1st
2 Herbert Alexander Casson 10 May 1922 27 October 1923
2 January 1924 16 January 1925 2nd
3 Abdul Qadir Unionist Party 16 January 1925 4 September 1925
4 Shahab-ud-Din Virk 3 December 1925 27 October 1926
4 January 1927 26 July 1930 3rd
25 October 1930 24 July 1936 4th
5 Chottu Ram 20 October 1936 10 November 1936

Deputy President
Council Name Tenure
1st Mehtab Singh 23 February 1921 24 October 1921
Manohar Lal 3 November 1921 27 October 1923
2nd Sheikh Abdul Qadir 5 January 1924 16 January 1925
Mohinder Singh 5 March 1925 27 October 1926
3rd Buta Singh 5 January 1927 21 July 1927
Habibullah 21 July 1927 26 July 1930
4th Harbaksh Singh 8 November 1930 17 January 1931
Buta Singh 2 March 1931 10 November 1936

First Council
Main article: 1920 Punjab Legislative Council election
Group Photo of Members of First Punjab Legislative Council.

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
Main article: 1923 Punjab Legislative Council election
Group photo of Members of Second Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1924.

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:

  • Sir George Anderson (Director of Public Instruction, Punjab)
  • Herbert Alexander Casson (President)
  • Sir Shahab-ud-Din Virk (President)
  • Sir Sheikh Abdul Qadir (President)
  • Manohar Lal (Lahore — Punjab University)
  • Sir Fazl-i-Husain (Minister for Education, Revenue Member — Muhammadan Landholders)
  • Sikandar Hayat Khan (Attock — Muhammadan, Rural)
  • Sundar Singh Majithia (Revenue Member)
  • John Maynard (Leader of the House, Finance Member)
  • Jogendra Singh (Sikh Landholders, Minister for Agriculture)
  • Chhotu Ram (South East Rohtak — Non-Muhammadan, Rural, Minister for Agriculture, Education)

Third Council
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:

  • Sir George Anderson (Director of Public Instruction, Punjab)
  • Sir Sheikh Abdul Qadir (Representative, General Interests)
  • Sir Henry Craik (Finance Member Government of Punjab)
  • Sir Geoffrey Fitzhervey de Montmorency (Finance Member to Government, Punjab)
  • Herbert Emerson (Secretary to Government Punjab, Finance Department)
  • Sir Fazl-i-Husain Revenue Member to Government Punjab
  • Sir Muhammad Iqbal (Lahore City — Muhammadan, Urban)
  • Sikandar Hayat Khan (Muhammadan — Landholders)
  • Manohar Lal (Punjab University) — Minister for Education
  • Feroz Khan Noon (Shahpur East — Muhammadan, Rural) — Minister for Local Self-Government
  • Chhotu Ram (Hissar — Non-Muhammadan, Rural)
  • Sir Jogendra Singh (Sikh Landholders) — Minister for Agriculture
  • Sir Shahab-ud-Din Virk (President)

Fourth Council
Main article: 1930 Punjab Legislative Council election
Group photo of Members of Fourth Punjab Legislative Council.

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:

  • Sir George Anderson (Director of Public Instruction, Punjab)
  • Mazhar Ali Azhar (East and West Central Towns — Muhammadan, Urban)
  • Sir Henry Craik (Finance Member to Government, Punjab)
  • Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani (Representative of General Interest)
  • Sir Fazl-i-Husain Minister for Education
  • Miles Irving (Finance Member, Minister Revenue previously worked as Financial Commissioner)
  • Sikandar Hayat Khan (Revenue Member to Government, Punjab)
  • Manohar Lal (Punjab University)
  • Shahnawaz Khan Mamdot (Representative of General Interest)
  • Feroz Khan Noon (Shahpur East — Muhammadan, Rural) — Minister for Education
  • Chhotu Ram (President)
  • Sir Jogendra Singh (Sikh, Landholders — Minister for Agriculture)
  • Arjan Singh(Sikh, MLC Hoshiarpur and Kangra 1936)
  • Sir Shahab-ud-Din Virk (President)

See also

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