Hello People!
In today’s blog we will be talking about the Madras Legislative Council. St. George which became Madras Legislative Council recently completed 100 years since its inception.
Further in the blog we will discuss the history, key milestones, the events organized on the celebration of 100 years and other facts related to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council.
Madras Legislative Council- History
- It was established by the first Indian Council Act of 1861.
- Though it was established as an advisory body by the British colonial administration in 1861, the Indian Council Act of 1892 extended its role and power.
- The Morley-Minto Act of 1909 established limited election.
- In November 1920, the Madras Legislative Council held its first election.
- The Duke of Connaught presided over the Council’s first meeting on January 12, 1921.
- Five such councils were established in total (in 1920, 23, 26, 30 and 34).
Some Important Milestones Achieved
- January 1921 – The State Assembly building was called the Madras Legislative Council when it was first built. On January 12, it was opened by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and uncle of George V, Emperor of England.
- July 1937 -The Government of India Act, 1935, was the next significant step in the evolution of the legislative. The Act established a bi-cameral Legislature in the Province of Madras, as it was then known, with 215 members in the Legislative Assembly and 56 members in the Legislative Council.
- Different groups were represented, including Muslims, Christians, and landowners. There were also eight female members.
- July 1947 – Pingali Venkayya’s designed National Flag of India was initially adopted in its present form during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947. The first flag flown after the country’s independence is also kept on the third floor of the Fort complex’s museum.
- November 1986 – The Tamil Nadu Legislative Council (Abolition) Bill, 1986, was passed by both houses of Parliament. It gained presidential assent and was abolished the following year.
Events held on celebration
President Ram Nath Kovind unveiled a life-sized portrait of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at the Tamil Nadu Assembly. He paid tribute to his social legacy of the legislature during the celebration.
The event was also attended by Chief Minister and Karunanidhi’s son M K Stalin and Governor Banawarilal Purohit.
Some of the revolutionary concepts that revolutionized society were the abolition of the Devadasi system, widow remarriage, mid-day meals in schools, and the distribution of agricultural land to the landless.
Indian Council Act of 1861
It was established to meet the needs of Indians’ cooperation in the administration of the country. For executive and legislative purposes, the legislation restored the government’s power and the composition of the Governor General’s council.
The three distinct presidencies (Madras, Bombay, and Bengal) were merged into one. The Act added a fifth member to the Viceroy’s Executive Council – a jurist.
Stay tuned with us for more such updates!
