History of Constitutional Developments

Contents: Preface. 1. Central and provincial structure. 2. Regulating Act, 1773. 3. Pitts India Act, 1784. 4. Indian Councils Act, 1861. 5. Indian Councils Act, 1882. 6. Indian Councils Act, 1909. 7. Government of India Act, 1919. 8. Provisions of Government of India Act, 1935. 9. Legislatures Under the Act, 1935. 10. History of Indian Constitution. 11. The Fundamental Rights. 12. Directive principles and constitution. 13. Amendment procedure of Indian constitution. Index.

"It is impossible to think of a country without a constitution of some kind. The constitution of a country may be enacted or it may be largely based upon conventions. The Constitution of the U.S.A. is an example of an enacted constitution, whereas the British Constitution is mostly grounded in conventions. A constitution indicates the pattern of the state. It binds the ruler and the ruled and makes possible the proper adjustment of the power relationship. The Americans of the first time realized the importance of the constitution. But in the nineteenth century when constitutionalism became the main basis of democracy, the framing of a constitution for the sound governance of a country was felt obligatory. The importance of a constitution may be explained in the words of Jellink: "A state without a constitution would not be a state but a regime of anarchy".

It was precisely this consideration which was uppermost in the minds of the national leaders of India. They wanted to give India the best possible constitution. They did not start with a clean state." (jacket)