The Rowlatt Act was passed to

The Rowlatt Act, officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, was enacted by the British government to suppress the rising tide of nationalism in India [1]. Based on the recommendations of the Rowlatt Committee, the law aimed to curtail nationalist and revolutionary activities by granting the colonial administration extraordinary powers [4]. Key provisions included the detention of political prisoners without trial for up to two years and the ability to arrest suspects without warrants [2]. This 'Black Act' effectively suspended the right of habeas corpus, leading to widespread protests and the launch of the Rowlatt Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi [3]. The act was a repressive 'stick' policy intended to maintain British control by silencing dissent and revolutionary conspiracies that had gained momentum during and after the First World War [4].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 15: Emergence of Gandhi > The Rowlatt Act > p. 320
2. [2] India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > 1.2 The Rowlatt Act > p. 31
3. [4] http://indianculture.gov.in/stories/jallianwala-bagh-massacre
4. [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 15: Emergence of Gandhi > Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms and Government of India Act, 1919 > p. 308