Provisions framed for the Board of Control established by the Pitt’s India Act 1784 with a supporting Video

 The Supporting Video display is given below, and then the transcript follows: 

Provisions of the Board of Control of the Pitt’s India Act 1784

The India Act of 1784 formed two bodies to regulate the working of the Company at Leadenhall Street, London. It created a Parliamentary Body comprising six commissioners and became popular as the Board of Control. It organised the Court of Directors, which was part of the Company Administration. The provisions for these two bodies are discussed as follows.

Provisions Related to the Board of Control:

1. The India Act of 1784 formed a Board of Six Commissioners to conduct the affairs of India. It was popularly known as the Board of Control. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State and four Privy Councillors were made the members of the Board. They were appointed by the King and could continue in their office at the pleasure of the King.

2. The Secretary of State was made the President of the Board. In the absence of the head of the Board, the Chancellor of the Exchequer was to preside over their meeting. The quorum of the Board was fixed at three. If only three members were present in the absence of the Secretary of State and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, then the members could choose the seniormost among them to act as the president for a meeting. The President of the Board had the casting vote in case of equal division of the opinion.

3. The Board was empowered to superintend, direct and control all the acts and operations related to the civil or military or revenue administration of the British possessions in the East Indies.

4. The Board was authorised to get full access to the records of the Company. No despatch other than of a commercial nature was allowed to be sent to India without their approval.

5. The Board was authorised to approve, disapprove or amend the letters, orders and instructions submitted to them by the Company and the Company was bound to send such despatches to their servants.

6. The Board was empowered to direct the Directors of the Company to prepare an order or a despatch on any subject. In case such instructions were not complied with within 14 days, the Board could prepare a despatch and direct the Directors to transmit the instructions to the governments of India.

7. The Board of Control was imparted power to send its urgent and secret orders and directions through a Secret Committee of the Directors constituted of up to three members. The Secret Committee of the Court of Directors was bound to transmit them to the governments in India without sharing them with the rest of the members of the Board of Directors. The Board of Control later used this provision in a manner that it became the actual authority.

8. The Board of Control was not given any power of patronage. It meant they could not directly appoint or dismiss any servant from the service of the Company.

9. The Court of Proprietors was forbidden to annul or suspend any resolution of the Directors which had received the approval of the Board of Control.

10. The Parliament had granted itself the right to pay the salaries, charges and expenses of the Board of Control out of the revenues of India. Such payments were restricted to the upper limit of £ 16000.

Watch the mobile phone of the above transcript on the following video: