Which of the following statements about the Ilbert Bill (1883) is/are

Which of the following statements about the Ilbert Bill (1883) is/are correct?

  • It proposed to grant limited criminal jurisdiction to native officials.
  • It proposed to grant complete civil and criminal jurisdiction to native officials.
  • The proposed Bill generated opposition from England’s European subjects in India.
  • In spite of opposition to the Bill, it was passed without any modifications.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2
2 only
1 and 3
3 and 4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2017
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The Ilbert Bill aimed to remove the disability of Indian judges from trying European British subjects in criminal cases, effectively granting them criminal jurisdiction over Europeans at the level of Sessions Judges and Presidency Magistrates. Statement 1, referring to granting ‘limited’ criminal jurisdiction, can be interpreted as referring to this specific extension of power to certain Indian officials. Statement 3 is correct because the proposed Bill sparked strong opposition from the European community in India, leading to the ‘White Mutiny’. Statement 2 is incorrect as the Bill primarily dealt with criminal jurisdiction over Europeans, not complete civil and criminal jurisdiction. Statement 4 is incorrect; due to the intense opposition, the Bill was significantly modified before being passed as a compromise in 1884.
– The Ilbert Bill proposed to allow Indian Sessions Judges and Presidency Magistrates to try European British subjects in criminal cases.
– The Bill generated widespread opposition from the European community in India.
– The final Act was a watered-down version of the original proposal.
The controversy highlighted racial discrimination in the justice system and exposed the deep-seated prejudices of the European community against Indians holding positions of power. It became a significant event in the growth of Indian nationalism.
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