The Rowlatt Act aimed ata)compulsory economic support to war effortsb)...
In the year 1919, the British Government passed a new rule called Rowlatt Act, under which the Government had the authority and power to arrest people and keep them in prisons without any trial if they are suspected with the charge of terrorism. The government also earned the power to refrain the newspapers from reporting and printing news. The Act was ill famed as 'Black Act' by the people and Indians revolt in protest against the Rowlatt Act.
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The Rowlatt Act aimed ata)compulsory economic support to war effortsb)...
The Rowlatt Act was a controversial legislation passed by the British government in 1919 in India. It aimed to give the colonial authorities extensive powers to suppress any form of dissent or opposition to British rule. The correct answer to the question is option 'B', which states that the Act aimed at imprisonment without trial and summary procedures for trial.
Explanation:
Imprisonment without trial:
- The Rowlatt Act authorized the government to arrest and detain any individual suspected of being involved in seditious activities without trial.
- This provision allowed the authorities to bypass the usual legal procedures and imprison individuals indefinitely based on mere suspicion.
- It was a direct attack on the fundamental rights of the people, as it violated the principle of due process and the right to a fair trial.
Summary procedures for trial:
- The Act also introduced summary procedures for trial, which meant that the accused would not have the right to a jury trial and would be tried by a judge alone.
- This provision further undermined the rights of the accused and increased the power of the colonial authorities to convict individuals without sufficient evidence or proper legal proceedings.
Opposition to the Rowlatt Act:
- The Rowlatt Act was met with widespread opposition from the Indian population, who saw it as a draconian measure aimed at suppressing their freedom and rights.
- The Act was seen as a betrayal of the promises made by the British government during World War I to grant India greater autonomy and self-governance.
- The Indian National Congress and other political organizations launched a nationwide protest against the Act, which culminated in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar.
Conclusion:
The Rowlatt Act was a repressive legislation that aimed to curtail civil liberties and freedom in India. Its provisions of imprisonment without trial and summary procedures for trial were oppressive measures that violated the principles of justice and due process. The Act sparked widespread protests and opposition, which played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and eventually led to the end of British colonial rule in India.