Punjab Legislative Council (British India)

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Punjab Legislative Council
Type
Type	Unicameral
Houses	Punjab Legislative Council
Term limits	3 years
History
Founded	8 January 1921 (1921-01-08)
Disbanded	10 November 1936 (1936-011-10)
Preceded by	Lieutenant Governor's Council of British Punjab
Succeeded by	Punjab Provincial Assembly
Leadership
President	Montagu Sherard Dawes Butler (First)
	Chottu Ram (Last)
Deputy President	Mehtab Singh (First)
	Buta Singh (Last)
Seats	Total-93 Elected-71 Nominated-22
Elections
First election	1920
Last election	1930
Constitution
Government of India Act 1919

The Punjab Legislative Council was the unicameral legislature of British Punjab, a province of the British Raj. It was established in 1921 by the British authorities under Government of India Act 1919, the council had nominal powers and a membership of mainly pro-British politicians and government officials. Voting was largely boycotted until the Government of India Act 1935 increased representation and the powers of the assembly. It was dissolved in 1936 and was succeeded by Punjab Provincial Assembly.

The First World War gave the momentum to the growing demand for self-government in British India. Therefore, the new constitutional reforms, under the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms were introduced by British Government. The scheme was implemented through the Government of India Act 1919. The first Council was constituted on 8 January 1921 for the first time. The election for first Council was held in December 1920. 71 members were elected and 22 were nominated by Governor and the last election held in 1930 and the council disbanded in 1936^[1]