The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crime Act, 1919

Governor General Chelmsford had appointed a committee under the chairmanship of Justice Sydney Rowlatt in 1917 for retrospections of the nature of revolution and for suggestion which was popularly known as ‘Rowlatt Committee’.  In 1918, committee submitted its report with recommendation for punitive as well as preventive measures. This act empowered the government to arrest any person without warrant and can detent for two years without trial.

Provisions of Act

• The Governor-General had power to implement the Act to any area.
• The Act envages for the speedy trial of offences.
• In the interest of public safety, suspected persons could be arrested and confined.
• It provided that persons interned under the Defence of India Act may not be released,
• In the trials of such cases the juris were to be dispensed with.

Conclusion

The act was injected in British Indian polity to overcome on the ongoing political activities and popular liberties. The act contains two philosophies- punitive and preventive to bring any individual under an executive control within the scope of act that ceased to apply any region.

GK Questions and Answers on History of India