Travancore Legislative Council
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Travancore Legislative Council was the governing body of the Travancore princely state from 1888 to 1932. This legislature was the first opportunity in post-medieval India for non-royal natives to interfere, at least to some extent, with the sovereignty of princely states or imperial powers.[1] Shri Moolam Tirunal Rama Varma, the Maharaja (King) of Travancore, is considered as the first Indian ruler to implement the concept of public participation in governance through the formation of this council. After passing through many stages of evolution, this assembly later became the basic framework of the Kerala Legislature and is considered to became the core of the legislative system of Kerala itself, which became a state in independent India.[2]
The Travancore Legislative Council came into existence on 30 March 1888 through an order issued by Maharaja Shri Moolam Tirunal. The proclamation stipulated a committee of eight members, including not less than two non-official members, for a term of three years.[3] On 23 August 1888, in the first meeting chaired by the then Dewan T. Ram Rao himself, there were five official members and three non-official members. The council was chaired by the Diwan. Provision was made to appoint a vice-chairman temporarily in his absence.[4]
Objectives
Such a council was formed for the first time among the six hundred princely states that existed in India. The role of the council was to advise the king and his staff on legislation. The rules framed by the committee came into force after receiving the approval of the King. The King himself had the final authority to enact such laws. The council had no authority to check whether the said laws were being effectively implemented or to take any further action. But even with those limitations, the Travancore Legislative Council is considered now as a first step towards a democratic process involving the public.[5]