Regulating Act of 1773

Regulating Act of 1773 is of great constitutional importance as

(a) it was the first step taken by the British Government to control and regulate the affairs of the East India Company in India;

(b) it recognized, for the first time, the political and administrative functions of the Company; and

(c) it laid the foundations of central administration in India.

Features of the Regulating Act of 1773

1. It designated the Governor of Bengal as the ‘Governor-General of Bengal’ and created an Executive Council of four members to assist him. The first such Governor-General was Lord Warren Hastings.
2. It made the governors of Bombay and Madras presidencies subordinate to the governor general of Bengal, unlike earlier, when the three presidencies were independent of one another.
3. It provided for the establishment of a Supreme Court at Calcutta (1774) comprising one chief justice and three other judges. Sir Elijah Impey served as the Chief Justice, while Lemester, Chambers, and Hyde were the other judges of the court established in 1774.

4. It prohibited the servants of the Company from engaging in any private trade or accepting presents or bribes from the ‘natives’.
5. It strengthened the control of the British Government over the Company by requiring the Court of Directors (governing body of the Company) to report on its revenue, civil, and military affairs in India (four-year terms).

Reasons behind the Regulating Act of 1773

1. War against American
2. Tea act 1773
3. Shareholders
4. No money from EIC from 1768
5. Corruption

Drawbacks the Regulating Act of 1773

1. no effective mechanism to study the reports sent by the Governor-General in Council
2. no veto power for Governor-General
3. The powers of the Supreme Court were not well defined.
4. Concern of Indian people not justified
5. This Act failed to stop corruption.

Source: M. Laxmikant

It was the first step taken by the British Government to control and regulate the affairs of the East India Company in India;

Governor of Bengal as the ‘Governor-General of Bengal’ and created an Executive Council of four members

Lord Warren Hastings was first GGB

establishment of a Supreme Court at Calcutta (1774)

Prohibited corruption

Court of Directors (governing body of the Company) to report on its revenue, civil, and military affairs

THE COMPANY RULE (1773–1858)	THE CROWN RULE (1858–1947)
1. Regulating Act of 1773	1. Government of India Act of 1858
2. Pitt’s India Act of 1784	2. Indian Councils Act of 1861
3. Charter Act of 1833	3. Indian Councils Act of 1892
4. Charter Act of 1853	4. Indian Councils Act of 1909
	5. Government of India Act of 1919
	6. Government of India Act of 1935
	7. Indian Independence Act of 1947