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The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919, popularly known as the Rowlatt Act or Black Law^[1] , was a legislative act passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi on March 18, 1919, indefinitely extending the emergency measures of preventive indefinite detention, incarceration without trial and judicial review enacted in the Defence of India Act 1915 during the First World War. It was enacted in light of a perceived threat from revolutionary nationalist organisations of re-engaging in similar conspiracies as during the war which the Government felt the lapse of the DIRA regulations would enable.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] Passed on the recommendations of the Rowlatt Committee and named after its president, British judge Sir Sidney Rowlatt, this act effectively authorized the government to imprison any person suspected of terrorism living in the Raj for up to two years without a trial, and gave the imperial authorities power to deal with all revolutionary activities.

Introduction

Following the world War and revolutionary activity of Indian Freedom Fighters, British Raj introduced another unpopular legislation that provided for stricter control of the press, arrests without warrant, indefinite detention without trial, and juryless in camera trials for proscribed political acts. The accused were denied the right to know the accusers and the evidence used in the trial.^[7] Those convicted were required to deposit securities upon release, and were prohibited from taking part in any political, educational, or religious activities.^[7]

Making of Act

On the report of the committee,headed by Justice Rowlatt,two bills were introduced in the central legislature in February 1919. These bills came to be known as "black bills". They gave enormous powers to the police to search a place and arrest any person they disapproved of without warrant. A well known description of the bills at that time was:No Dalil,No Vakil,No Appeal i.e.,no pleas,no lawyer,no Appeal. Despite much opposition, the Rowlatt act was passed in March 1919. The purpose of the act was to curb the growing nationalist upsurge in the country.

Reaction

Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi among other Indian leaders, were extremely critical of the Act and argued that not everyone should get punishment in response to isolated political crimes. The Act annoyed many Indian leaders and the public, which caused the government to implement repressive measures. Mr. Jinnah's reaction was historical he warned the Raj in these words "This was the wrong remedy for the disease, the revolutionary crimes" He wrote to Viceroy Lord Chelmsford, "If these measures were passed they will create unprecedented discontent, agitation and will have most disastrous effects upon the relations between people and govt". When later act was passed he wrote to Viceroy his resignation which states, "We(Indians) have been asked for help during War and we helped now the fundamental principles of justice have been uprooted and constitutional rights of the people have been violated.......I, therefor, as a protest against the passing of the bill and the manner in which it was passed tender my resignation.....for I feel that under the prevailing conditions I can be of no use to my people",^[8] Gandhi and others found that constitutional opposition to the measure was fruitless, so on April 6, a "hartal" was organised where Indians would suspend all business and fast as a sign of their opposition and civil disobedience would be offered against specific law. This event is known as the Rowlatt Satyagraha.

However, the success of the hartal in Delhi, on March 30, was overshadowed by tensions running high, which resulted in rioting in the Punjab and other provinces. Deciding that Indians were not ready to make a stand consistent with the principle of nonviolence, an integral part of satyagraha, Gandhi suspended the resistance.

Implementation and Aftereffects

The Rowlatt Act came into effect in March 1919. In the Punjab the protest movement was very strong, and on April 10 two leaders of the congress, Dr. Satya Pal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew, were arrested and taken to an unknown place.

The army was called into Punjab, and on April 13 people from neighbouring villages gathered for Baisakhi Day celebrations in Amritsar, which led to the infamous Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919.^[9]^[10] It was due to this law and the incident of Jallianwala Bagh massacre Baghat Singh and his party was enraged and he decided to take part in politics and started active revolutionary movement against British Raj, that resulted in kakori looting of British treasure carrying train, assassination of John Saunders (a British police officer) and Assembly bombing. Baghat Singh was hanged for these crimes on 23rd March, 1931 in Lahore.^[11]

Accepting the report of the Repressive Laws Committee, the Government of India repealed the Rowlatt Act, the Press Act, and twenty-two other laws in March 1922.^[12]

References

^ Wolpert, Stanley (1984). Jinnah of Pakistan. Oxford University Press. p. 61. ISBN 9780195773897.
^ Popplewell 1995, p. 175
^ Lovett 1920, pp. 94, 187–191
^ Sarkar 1921, p. 137
^ Tinker 1968, p. 92
^ Fisher 1972, p. 129
^ ^a ^b Vohra, Ranbir (2001). The Making of India: A Historical Survey, 2nd Ed. Armonk, New York: M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 0-7656-0711-5. p. 126.
^ Wolpert, Stanley (1984). Jinnah of Pakistan. Oxford University Press. p. 61-62. ISBN 9780195773897.
^ "From the Land of Paradise to the Holy City". The Tribune. January 26, 2006.
^ "Op-ed: Let's not forget Jallianwala Bagh". Daily Times. April 13, 2003.
^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagat_Singh#Further_trial_and_execution
^ The history of British India: a chronology, John F. Riddick, 2006

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 Passed on the recommendations of the [[Rowlatt Committee]] and named after its president, British judge Sir [[Sidney Rowlatt]], this act effectively authorized the government to imprison any person suspected of [[terrorism]] living in the Raj for up to two years without a trial, and gave the imperial authorities power to deal with all revolutionary activities.
-===Introduction===
+==Introduction==
 Following the world War and revolutionary activity of Indian Freedom Fighters, British Raj introduced another unpopular legislation that provided for stricter control of the press, arrests without warrant, indefinite detention without trial, and juryless ''in camera'' trials for proscribed political acts. The accused were denied the right to know the accusers and the evidence used in the trial.<ref name="Vohra 2001, 126">Vohra, Ranbir (2001). [https://books.google.com/books?id=IDKoyGjFo44C ''The Making of India: A Historical Survey''], 2nd Ed. Armonk, New York: M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 0-7656-0711-5. p. 126.</ref> Those convicted were required to deposit securities upon release, and were prohibited from taking part in any political, educational, or religious activities.<ref name="Vohra 2001, 126" />
-===Making of Act===
+==Making of Act==
 On the report of the committee,headed by Justice Rowlatt,two bills were introduced in the central legislature in February 1919. These bills came to be known as "black bills". They gave enormous powers to the police to search a place and arrest any person they disapproved of without warrant. A well known description of the bills at that time was:No Dalil,No Vakil,No Appeal i.e.,no pleas,no lawyer,no Appeal.
 Despite much opposition, the Rowlatt act was passed in March 1919. The purpose of the act was to curb the growing nationalist upsurge in the country.
-===Reaction===
+==Reaction==
+[[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]] and [[Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi]] among other Indian leaders, were extremely critical of the Act and argued that not everyone should get punishment in response to isolated political crimes. The  Act annoyed many Indian leaders and the public, which caused the government to implement repressive measures. Mr. Jinnah's reaction was historical he warned the Raj in these words "This was the wrong remedy for the disease, the revolutionary crimes" He wrote to Viceroy [[Lord Chelmsford]], "If these measures were passed they will create unprecedented discontent, agitation and will have most disastrous effects upon the relations between people and govt". When later act was passed he wrote to Viceroy his resignation which states, "We(Indians) have been asked for help during War and we helped now the fundamental principles of justice have been uprooted and constitutional rights of the people have been violated.......I, therefor, as a protest against the passing of the bill and the manner in which it was passed tender my resignation.....for I feel that under the prevailing conditions I can be of no use to my people",<ref>{{cite book |last=Wolpert |first=Stanley |date=1984 |title=Jinnah of Pakistan |url= |location= |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=61-62 |isbn= 9780195773897}} </ref> Gandhi and others found that constitutional opposition to the measure was fruitless, so on April 6, a "[[hartal]]" was organised where Indians would suspend all business and fast as a sign of their opposition and civil disobedience would be offered against specific law. This event is known as the [[Non-cooperation movement|Rowlatt Satyagraha]].
- [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]] and [[Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi]] among other Indian leaders, were extremely critical of the Act and argued that not everyone should get punishment in response to isolated political crimes. The  Act annoyed many Indian leaders and the public, which caused the government to implement repressive measures. Mr. Jinnah's reaction was historical he warned the Raj in these words "This was the wrong remedy for the disease, the revolutionary crimes" He wrote to Viceroy [[Lord Chelmsford]], "If these measures were passed they will create unprecedented discontent, agitation and will have most disastrous effects upon the relations between people and govt". When later act was passed he wrote to Viceroy his resignation which states, "We(Indians) have been asked for help during War and we helped now the fundamental principles of justice have been uprooted and constitutional rights of the people have been violated.......I, therefor, as a protest against the passing of the bill and the manner in which it was passed tender my resignation.....for I feel that under the prevailing conditions I can be of no use to my people",<ref>{{cite book |last=Wolpert |first=Stanley |date=1984 |title=Jinnah of Pakistan |url= |location= |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=61-62 |isbn= 9780195773897}} </ref> Gandhi and others found that constitutional opposition to the measure was fruitless, so on April 6, a "[[hartal]]" was organised where Indians would suspend all business and fast as a sign of their opposition and civil disobedience would be offered against specific law. This event is known as the [[Non-cooperation movement|Rowlatt Satyagraha]].
 However, the success of the hartal in [[Delhi]], on March 30, was overshadowed by tensions running high, which resulted in rioting in the [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]] and other provinces. Deciding that Indians were not ready to make a stand consistent with the principle of [[nonviolence]], an integral part of satyagraha, Gandhi suspended the resistance.
-===Implementation and Aftereffects===
+==Implementation and Aftereffects==
 The Rowlatt Act came into effect in March 1919. In the Punjab the protest movement was very strong, and on April 10 two leaders of the congress, Dr. Satya Pal and Dr. [[Saifuddin Kitchlew]], were arrested and taken to an unknown place.