Constitutional Commissions and Indian Demands

The British colonial administration regularly appointed statutory commissions and enquiry committees to address Indian constitutional demands, evaluate political reforms, and delay or manage the transfer of power. Beginning in the late nineteenth century and accelerating after World War I, these constitutional commissions were tasked with examining administrative structures, evaluating the working of executive bodies, and assessing Indian readiness for self-governance. Indian nationalist responses to these bodies ranged from constitutional cooperation to complete boycotts, directly influencing the trajectory of the freedom struggle and shaping the modern Constitution of India.

Major Constitutional Commissions and Their Mandates

The evolution of constitutional reforms in colonial India was driven by statutory commissions mandated to examine governance structures and recommend legislative changes.

• Aitchison Commission (1886): Appointed under Lord Dufferin, this commission investigated Indian demands for administrative representation and civil service reforms, leading to the creation of Imperial, Provincial, and Subordinate civil services.
• Arundel Committee (1906): Formed under Lord Minto to consider expanding legislative councils, providing the blueprint for the Indian Councils Act 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms).
• Islington Commission (1912): Investigated the public service structure and advocated for the gradual Indianization of higher administrative cadres.
• Muddiman Committee (1924): Officially known as the Reforms Enquiry Committee, it evaluated the working of Dyarchy introduced by the Government of India Act 1919.
• Simon Commission (1927): A statutory commission appointed to review the functioning of the 1919 Act and assess India’s readiness for further constitutional advances.
• Butler Committee (1927): Investigated the relationship between the British Crown and the Princely States to clarify the legal parameters of British Paramountcy.
• Whitley Commission (1929): Examined labor conditions in industrial centers to address growing labor movements and economic demands.
• Lothian Committee (1932): Also known as the Indian Franchise Committee, it determined electoral qualifications and franchise expansion for the Government of India Act 1935.

Simon Commission and Indian Boycott

The Indian Statutory Commission was appointed in November 1927 under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon. The commission was established two years ahead of schedule by the Conservative government in Britain, which feared a potential defeat in upcoming domestic elections.

Structure and Objectives

• All-White Composition: The seven-member commission did not include a single Indian representative, sparking widespread outrage across political factions.
• Mandate: It was tasked with evaluating the success of Dyarchy in the provinces, examining the growth of education, and determining whether India was ready for representative institutions.
• Arrival: The commission landed in Bombay on February 3, 1928, greeted by nationwide strikes, black-flag demonstrations, and slogans of “Simon Go Back.”

Nationalist Counter-Response

• Cross-Party Unity: The Indian National Congress, the All-India Muslim League (led by M. A. Jinnah), and the Liberal Federation jointly boycotted the commission.
• Nehru Report (1928): In response to Lord Birkenhead’s challenge asserting that Indian leaders could not draft a unanimously accepted constitution, an All-Parties Conference chaired by Motilal Nehru drafted the Nehru Report, demanding Dominion Status, joint electorates, and fundamental rights.
• Protests and Casualty: During a peaceful protest against the commission in Lahore in October 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai suffered severe police baton charges, passing away weeks later from his injuries.

Muddiman Committee and Dyarchy Evaluation

Appointed in 1924 under Sir Alexander Muddiman, the Reforms Enquiry Committee examined the operational failures of Dyarchy in provincial administration following demands raised by the Swaraj Party inside the Central Legislative Assembly.

Findings and Split Recommendations

• Majority Report: Composed of British official members, the majority report stated that Dyarchy had not been given a fair trial and required only minor administrative adjustments.
• Minority Report: Authored by Indian members including Tej Bahadur Sapru, M. R. Jayakar, and P. S. Sivaswami Iyer, the minority report declared Dyarchy inherently unworkable and called for immediate constitutional changes establishing full provincial autonomy.

Comparative Matrix of Constitutional Enquiry Commissions

Evolution of Indian Nationalist Demands

Indian demands evolved from moderate administrative representation into radical calls for complete independence in response to inadequate British commission proposals.

Stages of Constitutional Demands

• Expansion of Councils (1885–1909): Early nationalist demands focused on entry into legislative bodies, control over imperial budgets, and higher administrative appointments.
• Self-Government within the Empire (1916–1928): Home Rule Leagues and the Nehru Report demanded Dominion Status similar to Australia and Canada.
• Purna Swaraj (1929 Onward): Rejection of the Simon Commission recommendations led the Congress to declare complete independence (Purna Swaraj) as its ultimate goal at the Lahore Session in December 1929.
• Constituent Assembly (1934 Onward): M. N. Roy first proposed an independent Constituent Assembly in 1934, an idea officially adopted by the Congress in 1935 to reject British-imposed constitutional frameworks.

Key Exam Facts

• The Arundel Committee was appointed in 1906 to prepare the groundwork for the Morley-Minto Reforms.
• Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, challenged Indian leaders to draft a constitution, leading to the Nehru Report of 1928.
• Sir John Simon belonged to the British Liberal Party, while Clement Attlee, a future British Prime Minister, served as a member of the Simon Commission.
• The Simon Commission submitted its two-volume report in May 1930, recommending the abolition of Dyarchy and the establishment of provincial autonomy.
• The Unionist Party in Punjab and the Justice Party in Madras did not boycott the Simon Commission.
• The Muddiman Committee (1924) included Indian members such as Tej Bahadur Sapru, M. R. Jayakar, Sir Sivaswami Iyer, and Dr. R. P. Paranjpye.
• The Butler Committee (1927) coined the phrase “Paramountcy must remain paramount” regarding the British Crown’s relationship with Princely States.
• The Lothian Committee (1932) recommendations expanded the Indian electorate to approximately 14% of the total population for the 1937 elections.
• The Nehru Report recommended the complete dissociation of state from religion and outlined nineteen fundamental rights.
• M. N. Roy officially put forward the idea of a Constituent Assembly for India in 1934.