Question map
In British India, which one among the following Acts permitted detention without trial for up to two years ?
Explanation
The Rowlatt Act, officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, was a repressive piece of legislation passed by the Imperial Legislative Council [3]. Based on the recommendations of the Rowlatt Committee, the Act was designed to curb the rising nationalist upsurge and revolutionary activities in India [3]. Its most controversial provision allowed the British colonial government to arrest and detain political prisoners without trial for a period of up to two years [2]. This effectively suspended the right of habeas corpus and judicial review [3]. Mahatma Gandhi and other Indian leaders vehemently opposed the Act, calling it a 'Black Act' [2]. The widespread resentment against this legislation led to the launch of the Rowlatt Satyagraha and eventually culminated in the tragic Jallianwala Bagh massacre in April 1919 [3].
Sources
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 15: Emergence of Gandhi > The Rowlatt Act > p. 320
- [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowlatt_Act
- [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