Simon Commission

Introduction 

The Government of India Act 1919 had a provision to constitute a commission after ten years. This commission would look into the progress of the reforms. The committee would also suggest whether India was ready for further constitutional reforms. As a result, the British Parliament constituted the Indian Statutory Commission, a commission composed of 7 members of the British Parliament in 1927. John Simon was the chairman of the commission.

Recommendations 

The following points were recommended by the Simon

• Dyarchy should be scrapped at the provinces and the ministers should be made responsible to the legislature. No diarchy should be introduced in the Centre.

• A Federal Union including both British India and the Princely states, was the only long term solution for a united and autonomous India.

• Universal Franchise to be extended

• The Legislative Council should be enlarges

• The High Courts should be under the administrative control of the government of India

• The Viceroy’s executive council could not be made responsible to the elected members

Protest Against the Commission 

The Simon Commission arrived in India on November 8, 1927. However, the Commission faced anger and boycott in almost all the places it went. The people of India were agitated because the commission didn’t include any Indian. This was considered a denial of the right to self determination. The Congress, the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha all boycotted the Simon Commission.