Muddinman Committee (1924)

The British Government had set up a committee under Sir Alexander Muddinman which was popularly known as Muddinman Committee to meet the demand of the Indian Leaders and in view of the resolution adopted by Swaraj Party in early 1920s. The Committee was consisting four Indian members other than British members.

Indian members of the Committee

1. Sir Sivaswami Aiyar

2. Dr. R P Paranjape

3. Sir Tejbahadur Sapru

4. Mohammad Ali Jinnah

The concept behind the appointment of the committee for making an investigation on diarchy issue on the Constitution into the working of the Constitution as set up in 1921 under the Indian Council Act of 1919. The report was submitted in 1925 that consisted of two parts- Majority and Minority Report.

The Majority Report:  It consisting of officials and loyalists declared that Dyarchy had not been established. They also felt that the system had not been given a fair trial and hence recommended only minor changes.

The Minority Report: It consisting of only Non-Official Indian stated that the Act of 1919 had failed. It also opined that what was needed was a Constitution framed on a permanent basis with a provision for automatic progress in the future.

Recommendations of Muddinman Committee

1. Condemned Diarchy and recommended minor changes in the duties of non- official Indians.
2. Recommended fundamental changes in the structure of the Government of India Act of 1919.

It, therefore recommended the appointment of a Royal Commission. Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India said that action would take on the basis of majority report.

“History of Modern India”: A Complete Study Material