Charter Act of 1793

The East India Company Act 1793, also known as the Charter Act 1793, was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which renewed the charter issued to the British East India Company (EIC).

The East India Company Act, 1793[1]
(Charter Act of 1793)
Long titleAn Act for continuing in the East India Company for a further Term the Possession of the British Territories in India, together with their exclusive Trade under certain Limitations; for establishing further Regulations for the Government of the said Territories, and the better Administration of Justice within the same; for appropriating to certain Uses the Revenues and Profits of the said Company, and for making Provision for the good Order and Government of the Towns of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay
Citation33 Geo. 3 c. 52
Other legislation
Repealed byGovernment of India Act 1915
Status: Repealed

Provisions

In contrast with legislation concerning British India proposed in the preceding two decades, the 1793 Act "passed with minimal trouble".[2] The Act made only fairly minimal changes to either the system of government in India or British oversight of the company's activities. Most importantly, the company's trade monopoly was continued for a further 20 years. Salaries for the staff and paid members of the Board of Control were also now charged to the company. Other provisions of the Act included:

  • The Governor-General was granted extensive powers over the subordinate presidencies.
  • The Governor-General's power of over-ruling his council was affirmed, and extended over the Governors of the subordinate presidencies.
  • Senior officials were forbidden from leaving India without permission.
  • Royal approval was mandated for the appointment of the Governor-General, the governors, and the Commander-in-Chief.
  • This Act continued the company's rule over the British territories in India.
  • It continued the company's trade monopoly in India for another 20 years.
  • The Act established that “acquisition of sovereignty by the subjects of the Crown is on behalf of the Crown and not in its own *right,” which clearly stated that the company's political functions were on behalf of the British government.
  • The company's dividends were allowed to be raised to 10%.
  • The Governor-General was given more powers. He could override his council's decision under certain circumstances.
  • He was also given authority over the governors of Madras and Bombay.
  • When the Governor-General was present in Madras or Bombay, he would supersede in authority over the governors of Madras and Bombay.
  • In the Governor-General's absence from Bengal, he could appoint a vice president from among the civilian members of his Council.
  • The composition of the Board of Control changed. It was to have a President and two junior members, who were not necessarily members of the Privy Council.
  • The salaries of the staff and the Board of Control were also now charged to the company.
  • After all expenses, the company had to pay the British government 5 Lakh British Pounds from the Indian revenue annually.
  • Senior company officials were barred from leaving India without permission. If they did so, it would be considered as a resignation.
  • The company was granted the authority to grant licenses to individuals and company employees to carry on trade in India. This was known as ‘privilege’ or ‘country trade’. This led to shipments of opium to China.

This Act separated the revenue administration and the judiciary functions of the company leading to the disappearance of Maal Adalats (revenue courts)

  • The EIC was empowered to grant licences to both individuals and Company employees to trade in India[3] (known as the "privilege" or "country" trade), which paved the way for shipments of opium to China.

The company's charter was next renewed by the Charter Act 1813.

See also

References
  1. Short title as conferred by the Short Titles Act 1896, s. 1; the modern convention for the citation of short titles omits the comma after the word "Act".
  2. A Constitutional History of India 1600–1935, Arthur Berriedale Keith, Methuen, London, 1936, p. 100
  3. Brewster, David (1832), The Edinburgh Encyclopædia, 11, J. and E. Parker, p. 275


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