• Local institutions are the strength of free nations, and a system of Local Self-Government is essential for fostering the spirit of liberty.

• The earliest efforts in municipal government in India began in the Presidency towns of Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay.

• In 1687, an order from the Court of Directors established the formation of a Corporation in Madras, consisting of Europeans and Indian members, but the Corporation did not survive.

• Under the Regulating Act of 1773, the Governor-General nominated the servants of the Company and other British inhabitants as Justice of Peace in the Presidency towns.

• These Justices were responsible for appointing scavengers to clean and repair streets, making assessments for those purposes, and granting licenses for the sale of spirituous liquors.

• The reason for this was the unsanitary state of affairs in the Presidency towns, where public drains served as natural receptacles for filth and refuse, and carcasses were left to rot in the streets.

• Between 1817 and 1830, sporadic efforts were made in Madras and Calcutta to undertake public works funded by lottery funds, which included the development of roads and drains.

• After completion, the roads and drains were handed over to the Justices of Peace for maintenance, but the funds were insufficient, requiring Provincial Governments to supply the balance.

• In Bombay, a tax on carriages and carts was levied to fund road-making.

• The Justices of Peace did not show much interest in their responsibilities, and power gradually shifted to the Chief Magistrate.

• The Chief Magistrate, aided by the Superintendent of Police, oversaw tax collection and conservancy work, but there was no popular government.

• In 1840, an Act for Calcutta was passed, and in 1841, an Act for Madras was passed, expanding the purposes for which municipal assessments could be used.

• Inhabitants of the towns were given control over the assessment and collection of taxes, but the response from the public was lackluster.

• In 1845, an Act for Bombay concentrated administrative powers in a Conservancy Board, consisting of two Europeans and three Indian Justices, with the Senior Magistrate of Police as Chairman.

Presidency Towns

• In 1856, two Acts, Act XXIV and Act XXV, were passed to address sanitation in the Presidency towns.

• Act XXIV focused on conservancy and improvement of the towns, while Act XXV dealt with the assessment and collection of rates.

• Special Acts were introduced to appoint three commissioners in each town. The Calcutta Act of 1856 included provisions for gaslighting and the construction of sewers, while the Bombay Act of 1858 granted powers to levy dues.

• Despite the legislation, the towns remained filthy, and the laws existed only on paper.

• There were quarrels between the Commissioner and the Justices of Peace in Calcutta, though some progress in sanitation was made.

• In Bombay, the sanitation condition was dreadful, and the death rate increased.

• By the Act of 1855, the Justices were made a body corporate with control over the budget, but executive power was held by a highly-paid government official.

• A Controller of Accounts was appointed to address accounting defects, but due to his subordination to the Commissioner, he was ineffective.

• Crawford, appointed as Municipal Commissioner, and Dr. Hewlett, as Health Officer, worked on improving sanitation, but there was great agitation against the Commissioner.

• After controversy, the membership of the Bombay Corporation was reduced to 64. 16 members were nominated by the Government, 16 elected by the resident Justices, and 32 elected directly by rate-payers.

• The executive power remained with the Commissioner, and provisions were made for weekly audits by the Town Council and monthly audits by paid auditors.

• Bombay earned credit for having a strong Executive Officer who was controlled by a Committee answerable to the Corporation, with half the members elected by rate-payers. (Refer to Bombay Municipal Act of 1872).

• In Calcutta, the Government intervened in 1899 due to worsening sanitation conditions, leading to the Calcutta Corporation Act of 1899.

• The new Act stipulated that only half the Commissioners would be elected by the rate-payers, with the remaining members appointed by various organizations.

• The powers of the Calcutta Corporation were limited to taxation and general functions, while the executive power was vested in the Chairman.

• A General Committee of 13 members was formed, with the power to decide on matters too detailed for the Corporation or too important for the Chairman alone.

• In Madras, the elective system was introduced in 1881, with 16 out of 32 members elected by rate-payers, while the President and two Vice-Presidents were Government-appointed salaried officers.

• The Madras Corporation was given power over the budget and the raising of loans, but official auditors scrutinized accounts.

• New taxes were levied for drainage and water supply, but Madras faced a fund shortage due to its smaller commercial base.

• In 1904, a new Municipal Act was passed for Madras on the lines of Calcutta, reducing the number of elected Commissioners and providing special representation for commercial interests.

• By 1918, all Presidency towns had a uniform system of Government, with a limited electorate, detailed provisions for debt, full control over finance, and a strong executive centered in a government official.