Ripon was a symbol of liberalism. Thus, in 1882, as per the instructions of the Secretary of India, he made arrangements to recruit Indians who studied in Engineering College, Roodhki, for government service.
Ilbert Bill
He decided to give equal pay to the judges of the Calcutta High Court and when Garth the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, was on leave, he appointed Ramesh Chandra Mitter as the Chief Justice. These actions of Ripon created dissatisfaction with the British who lived in India. This dissent was exploded by Ilbert Bill.
Indians had come in administrative and judicial services till Ripon came. Only European judges of Justice of Peace or the High Court could hear the lawsuits of the European under the Indian Penal Code. No Indian judge had the right to hear European lawsuits, except Presidency Towns (Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras). Ripon did not consider this discrimination to be fair.
Therefore, Ripon sent this matter to different provincial governments and members of his council for their consent. It was not opposed on any side. Thereafter, Ripon sent his proposal to the Indian Secretary and there was no protest against it too. So Ripon asked lawmaker Sir C. P. Ilbert, of his council to present a bill in this regard. That is why it is called the Ilbert Bill.
According to this bill, the members of Indian Civil Services and Statutory Services, Assistant Commissioners and Magistrates of the Cantonment were given the right to become a Justice of the Peace.
Sessions Judges and District Judges were made an Ex-officio Justice of Peace and the Assistant Sessions Judges were given the right to hear European lawsuits after three years of work. The original purpose of this bill was to remove the species restrictions on Indian judges.
This bill was presented in the Indian Parliament in February 1882. But the English society started an organized protest against it. British based in India wrote to the British government and newspapers that the condition of European women in India is becoming contemplate.
An English addressed his caste brothers and said, do they want to live in such a country where their wives can be punished for three days in the offense of slapping her maid. Ripon was boycotted by his own countrymen in every way and formed the European and Anglo-Indian Defense Federation.
Ripon was insulted openly when he came to Calcutta from Shimla. Ripon was not expecting such a horrific situation. He had a belief that this bill could not cause an insult or disrespect, because it would be a symbol of equality. Nevertheless, the British started an organized and extensive protest against it, which is called the white rebellion.
Ripon sent documents related to this bill to the government of England and the British government fully supported Ripon. But the movement of the British in Calcutta was highly fierce. The agitators also conspired that Ripon should be abducted and forcibly sent to London. Commenting on this situation, Dr. Gopal wrote that, Calcutta will soon become a place where Viceroy cannot be safe.
Although Ripon wanted to adopt a strong policy against this white revolt, some members of his council started thinking of compromising with the agitators.
Therefore, forcibly Ripon has to compromise and the bill was revised, according to which a session judge or a magistrate could hear the prosecution of the European criminal, whether it be Indian or European, but the culprit has the right to demand a jury at hearing of lawsuit, in which half members will be Europeans or American citizen.
Only European criminals could demand this. Therefore, their position was better than the Indians. Although Ripon could not pass the bill on the original, he still noticed it indirectly and learned the lesson of being organized.
As a result of this, the Indians became organized and did several movements against the species discrimination, and the Indian National Congress could establish in 1885.
Reference : https://www.indiaolddays.com/
