Regulating Act 1773

Introduced after Brit Parl wanted control over EIC. Also called Lord North Act.

Powers of GG

This is the time when "Centre" was born. Centralization of power peaks in Charter Act 1833.

• GBe elevated to GGBe
• GB, GM subordinate to GGBe in matters of war and peace except emergency circumstances
• Supreme Council of Bengal or GG council was created
  • GG + 4 councillors to ensure democratic decisions
  • GG had binding decision only when casting vote
  • first head: Warren Hastings
• legislative function given to GG council
  • i.e. common legis and exec
    • journey towards Parliament, Council of Ministers has begun
• GB & GM could be suspended by GGBe if they disobeyed in matters of war and peace

Powers of Brit State

• for the first time, right of Parl to regulate EIC affairs legally
  • only pol affairs in supervision; commercial affairs still with EIC
    • such respect for capitalism 🛐
• Supreme Court to be set up in Calcutta with one chief justice & 3 judges
  • to apply brit laws to brits
• Jurisdiction of SC: all cases of Brits in Bengal Suba & their indian servants
• GGBe & his council ministers headed Sadar Diwani Adalat (civil, revenue) and Sadar Nizamat Adalat (criminal).

graph TD
A[GGBe] --> B[SDA] & C[SNA]
D[SC] --> E["Cases involving
brits"]

Corruption

• banned taking gifts from indians

Tenure

Idea

long tenure makes one extra powerful

• 4yr for CoD of EIC; no re-election by shareholders
• 5yr for GGBe (could be reappointed or dismissed)
• all appointments done by EIC; all were EIC employees

Result

• huge dist b/w indian/london $⟹$ poor supervision
• centralization of power in GGBe $⟹$ journey of central govt began
• vague wording of emergency meant that GB & GM acted independent in practice
  • eg. signed Treaty of Surat 1775 without asking GGBe
• disunity in GGBe council & lack of veto $⟹$ problem of indecision
• conflict b/w SC & GG council due to lack of jurisdiction
  • eventually led to Amending Act 1781
• For more control, Pitts India Act 1784 enacted