Question

"The only people who had any right in India are the British". For which government bill these lines where quoted ?
1. Cabinet mission plan
2. Ilbert Bill
3. Simmon Commission
4. Pitts India Act

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Ilbert Bill

Ilbert Bill

• The Ilbert Controversy took place during Lord Ripon (1880-84) tenure in 1883.
• Ilbert prepared the bill in 1883 to bring the Indian and European magistrates on the same footing.
• The bill in the draft was generally approved by Lord Ripon's Executive Council as well as by almost all the provincial governments and was introduced in the Imperial Legislative Council in February 1882. Within a few weeks, the whole of the British community joined in a vigorous denunciation of the bill. 
• Indian Judges were not allowed to try European accused, hence Ripon asked to change this law and the Ilbert bill was prepared but there was opposition to this bill. 
• If a European accused was brought to court when an Indian judge is present, they (Europeans) had the right to request for a jury of which at least half the members must be Europeans to decide the case.
• The non-official European community boycotted Ripon’s levies. It was proposed to boycott the government loan. On his return to Calcutta from Simla.
• Ripon was openly insulted in the streets by planters who had come from the mofussil.
• A correspondent in the Englishman wrote thus: "The only people who had any right in India are the British. The so-called Indians have no right whatever."
• The cry of European women in danger was raised. 
• English women argued that Bengali women were not respected by their male counterparts, so they shouldn't get the power to try cases involving Britishers.
• On the contrary, Bengali women who supported the bill said that they were more educated and had good academic records than English Women.

• The opposition of the bill had led to its withdrawal with some amendments.
• The amended bill was passed on 25th January 1884 and came into force from 1st May 1884.
• The amended bill includes: 
• Half of the jury i.e. 50% must be Europeans when an Indian judge was trying a case involving Europeans.
• Europeans, Indian Judges, and Session Judges were given the power to try cases involving Europeans.