Which Viceroy was associated with the ‘Ilbert Bill Controversy’?

The bill was written by Sir Courtenay Peregrine Ilbert, and the bill was introduced in the year 1883 with the name of ‘Ilbert Bill’. Sir Courtenay Ilbert was the law member of the Viceroy’s Council. He suggested the bill as the proposed compromise between the two previously suggested bills.

As the bill received huge opposition by the British when it was get implemented in the very next year i.e. in 1884. The bill allowed a group of senior Indian Magistrate over cases which involves British subjects in India. Whereas, after a huge opposition and compromise the bill get enacted by the Indian Legislative Council on January 25, 1884. This controversy among the British and India resulted in the formation of the Indian National Congress by the end of the year.

Due to the huge opposition and the generation of racial tension among the British in Britain and in India as well, and faced disapproval by the majority of English Women. Every British made propaganda that Indian Judges cannot be trusted while dealing the cases which involves English Females. As well as, the British Media spread the wrong rumors about the Indian Judges that this will give them the opportunity to misuse their powers and fill their Harems with white English Females.

All these news, fake claims, and the opposition from the public had compelled Viceroy Ripon to make an amendment in the bill, and which allowed the 50% participation of European Jury if an Indian Judge was to face a European on the dock. Then the bill held into action and passed on January 25, 1884, as the Criminal Procedure Code Amendment Act 1884. The bill then finally came into action on March 1, 1884.