Nehru report essay sample

The “ Nehru Report” (August 1928) was a memorandum outlining a proposed new Dominion constitution for India. It was prepared by a committee of the All Parties Conference chaired by Motilal Nehru. There were nine other members in this committee, including two Muslims. However, the final report was signed by only the following persons: Motilal Nehru, Ali Imam, Tej Bahadur Sapru, M.-S. Aney, Mangal Singh, Shuaib Qureshi, Subhas Chandra Bose, and G. R. Pradhan, with Shuaaib Qureshi disagreeing with some of the recommendations.

The Nehru committee appointed by nationalists was their response to the appointment of Simon Commission and the challenge given by Lord Birkenhead to Indians asking them to frame a Constitution on which the Indian opinion was united. The Committee Report was adopted in August and was an outline draft of a Constitution which was based on the principle of fully responsible government on the model of the constitution of self governing dominions. The establishment of fully responsible government was considered as an immediate step. It made the following recommendations:

I. India should have the same constitutional status in the British Empire as other Dominions with Parliament having power to make laws and should be known as the Commonwealth of India. II. The constitution should define citizenship and declare fundamental rights. III. The legislative powers should vest with the King and bicameral parliament and executive powers with the King exercisable by the Governor-General and the same Provisions should be made for the establishment of responsible governments in provinces in respect of governors and executive councils, IV. Hierarchy of courts with Supreme Court at its apex be established.