How did the government of India act, 1935 mark a point of no return in the history of constitutional development in India?
The Act of 1935 was a great landmark and a positive outcome of a long drawn process of constitutional development. The British Government published the white paper that reflected the outline of a new constitution.
The significant aspects of the act were
- It granted autonomy of Indian province and ended the dyarchy system introduced by the act of 1919.
- Provision of direct election were introduced for the time.
- Sindh was separated from Bombay, Burma from India and Odisha from Bihar.
- It provided for establishment of an all India federation.
- Provincial assemblies court to include more elected in Indian representatives.
- Establishment of Supreme Court, Federal Court at Delhi, Reserve Bank of India were incorporated in the constitution of India.
- Provision of lists, separation of power between centre and state were introduced by the act of 1935.
- A joint select committee headed by Lord Linlithgow, review the white paper proposal at great length. On the basis of the white paper the act of 1935 was framed. Under the Act, the governors provinces were given a new legal status and free from the superintendence, direction and control of the government of India and the secretary of state except for specific purpose.
- The act made the Indian ministers confident and inspired them to,gain independence. By above description it can be observed that this Act (1935) was a vehicle for path of success. Thus, the government of India Act 1935, considered a mark point of no return in the history of constitutional development in India.
All these developments indicated the advances being made by the nationalists. They marked a point of no return in the history of constitutional development in India from which British could no longer retreat.
Post independence constitution of India has heavily drawn upon the provisions of Government of India act, 1935 albeit with some changes. Thus in many ways the Government of India act, 1935 laid not only the foundation stone for independent India's constitution but had provided a framework for Indian democracy.