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Delhi

Simmon Commission

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Published in: LLB | UPSC Exam
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Simon Commission was constituted under the leadership of Sir John Simon to look into the functioning of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes. It was officially known as ‘Indian Statutory Commission’ and consists of four conservative, two Labourites and one liberal member from the British Parliament. Commission did not have a single Indian member. Hence, at their arrival they greeted with the slogan ‘Go back Simon’. In order to overcome the protest, the viceroy, Lord Irwin announce an offer ‘dominion status’ for India in October AD 1929 and a Round Table Conference to discuss a future constitution.

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  1. SIMON COMMISSION AND IT'S RECOMMENDATIONS IN 1927 Introduction- Simon Commission, group appointed in November 1927 by the British Conservative government under Stanley Baldwin to report on the working of the Indian constitution established by the Government of India Act of 1919. The commission consisted of seven members four Conservatives, two Labourites, and one Liberal under the joint chairmanship of the distinguished Liberal lawyer, Sir John Simon, and Clement Attlee, the future prime minister. Its composition met with a storm of criticism in India because Indians were excluded. The commission was boycotted by the Indian National Congress and most other Indian political parties. It, nevertheless, published a two-volume report, mainly the work of Simon. Regarded as a classic state document, the report proposed provincial autonomy in India but rejected parliamentary responsibility at the centre. It accepted the idea of federalism and sought to retain direct contact between the British crown and the Indian states. Before its publication its conclusions had been outdated by the declaration of October 1929, which stated that dominion status was to be the goal of Indian constitutional development. Background- The Government of India Act 1919 had introduced the system of diarchy to govern the provinces of British India. The Indian public clamoured for revision of this form of government, and the Government of India Act 1919 itself stated that a commission would be appointed after ten years to investigate the progress of the governance scheme and suggest new steps for reform. In the late 1920s, the Conservative government then in power in Britain feared imminent electoral defeat at the hands of the Labour Party, and also feared the effects of the consequent transference of control of India to such an "inexperienced" body. Hence, it appointed seven MPs to constitute the promised commission to examine the state of Indian constitutional affairs. 1
  2. Some people in India were outraged and insulted that the Simon Commission, which was to determine the future of India, did not include a single Indian member. The Indian National Congress, at its December 1927 meeting in Madras (now Chennai), resolved to boycott the Commission and challenged Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, to draft a constitution that would be acceptable to the Indian populace. A faction of the Muslim League, led by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, also decided to boycott the Commission. However, opinion was divided, with support for co-operation coming from some members of the Muslim League and also both Hindus and members of the Central Sikh League.An All- India Committee for Cooperation with the Simon Commission was established by the Council of India and by selection of the Viceroy, Lord Irwin. The members of the committee were: C. Sankaran Nair(Chairman), Arthur Froom, Nawab Ali Khan, Shivdev Singh Uberoi, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Hari Singh Gour, Abdullah Al-Mamun Suhrawardy, Kikabhai Premchand and M. C. Rajah. In Burma (Myanmar), which was included in the terms of reference of the Simon Commission, there was strong suspicion either that Burma's unpopular union with India would continue, or that the constitution recommended for Burma by the Commission would be less generous than that chosen for India; these suspicions resulted in tension and violence in Burma leading to the rebellion of Saya San. Simon Commission- The Indian Statutory Commission was a group of seven British Members of Parliament of United Kingdom under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon assisted by Clement Attlee. The commission arrived in British-occupied India in 1928 to study constitutional reform in Britain's most important colonial dependency. It was commonly referred to as the Simon Commission after its chairman, Sir John Allsebrook Simon. One of its members was Clement Attlee, who became committed to Indian independence by 1934 and achieved that goal as Prime Minister in 1947 in the granting of independence to India and Pakistan At the time of introducing the Montagu—Chelmsford Reforms the British Government declared that a commission would be sent to India after ten years to examine the effects and operations of the constitutional reforms and to suggest more reforms for India. 2
  3. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. In November 1930 the British government appointed a commission under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon to report on India's constitutional progress for introducing constitutional reforms as had been promised. Members of the Commission- Sir John Simon Clement Attlee Harry Levy-Lawson, 1st Viscount Burnham Edward Cadogan Vernon Hartshorn George Lane-Fox Donald Howard, 3rd Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal Recommendations of Simon Commission- The recommendations of the Simon Commission were published in May 1930. They were as follows: Dyarchy in the provinces should be abolished and ministers should be made responsible to the provincial legislatures in all departments, including the department of law and order. The Governor was to retain the special powers for the safety and tranquility of the province and for the protection of the minorities. He would also have full powers of intervention in the event of breakdown of the constitution. The Franchise was to be extended and legislatures were to be enlarged. At the centre, a Federal assembly would be constituted on the basis of representation of the provinces and other areas as per the population. The council of state would continue as the Upper House but its members would be chosen not on the basis of direct election but on the basis of indirect election by the Provincial councils. No change in the central executive. The all India federation was not considered practical idea for immediate execution. Burma should be separated from the British India and should be provided a constitution of its own. Reaction Against Simon Commission- One month before publication of Simon Commission Report in April 1930, Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League started to show their severe resentment of Simon 3
  4. Commission Report, Quaid-e-Azam, in argument of his resentment against Simon Commission Report said: 'As no Indian has been taken in Simon Commission, neither Commission report can be accepted nor any cooperation could be extended with it. The Simon Commission should go back'. Large scale resentment broke out all over India against the Report of Simon Commission, protesting demonstrations took place, non-cooperation was shown, and riots carried on the large scale and for suppressing them police action took place. Consequently many injured and as a result of injury to a Hindu Leader Lala Lajpat Raiy, the central assembly of Lahore was bombed. Conclusion- Simon Commission was constituted under the leadership of Sir John Simon to look into the functioning of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes. It was officially known as 'Indian Statutory Commission' and consists of four conservative, two Labourites and one liberal member from the British Parliament. Commission did not have a single Indian member. Hence, at their arrival they greeted with the slogan 'Go back Simon'. In order to overcome the protest, the viceroy, Lord Irwin announce an offer dominion status' for India in October AD 1929 and a Round Table Conference to discuss a future constitution. 4
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