Justice Party

South Indian Liberal Federation (Justice Party) founded

Non-Brahmin leaders including C. Natesa Mudaliar, T. M. Nair and P. Theagaraya Chetty founded the South Indian Liberal Federation, later known as the Justice Party.

Non-Brahmin Manifesto published

The new non-Brahmin federation issued a manifesto criticising Brahmin dominance in public services and politics, drawing sharp criticism from The Hindu.

Government of India Act 1919 introduces dyarchy

Based on the Montagu-Chelmsford Report, the Act introduced dyarchy in the provinces, including Madras, transferring some subjects to elected ministers.

Madras Elementary Education Act

A Madras statute made elementary schooling compulsory for both boys and girls and raised spending on primary schools.

Justice Party wins first Madras Legislative Council election

The Justice Party won the first election held under the Montagu-Chelmsford dyarchy reforms in the Madras Presidency.

A. Subbarayalu Reddiar becomes first Premier of Madras

A. Subbarayalu Reddiar of the Justice Party took office as the first Chief Minister (Premier) of the Madras Presidency.

Madras grants voting rights to women

The Madras Legislative Council resolved to extend the franchise to women, among the first provinces in British India to do so.

First Communal Government Order on reservation

The Justice Party government issued the first Communal Government Order, reserving government posts for different communities.

Buckingham and Carnatic Mills strike

Workers of the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills in Madras went on a prolonged strike against Binny and Co. over wages and conditions.

Raja of Panagal becomes Premier

Panaganti Ramarayaningar, the Raja of Panagal, succeeded Subbarayalu Reddiar and led two Justice Party ministries until 1926.

Madras State Aid to Industries Act

The Justice Party government passed a law to advance state loans for setting up industries in the Presidency.

Council adopts the term Adi Dravida

Acting on a resolution by M. C. Rajah, the Madras Legislative Council adopted Adi-Dravida officially in place of terms like Paraiya and Panchama.

Justice Party wins second council election

The Justice Party retained power in the 1923 Madras Legislative Council election despite internal dissent.

Madras University Act

A fresh Madras University Act enlarged the University of Madras's governing bodies and gave them a more representative character.

Panagal ministry survives no-confidence motion

On the first day of the new council, a no-confidence motion against the Raja of Panagal's Justice ministry was defeated 65 to 44.

Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act

A law passed under the Justice Party government placed Hindu temple endowments under the oversight of a statutory board.

Death of P. Theagaraya Chetty

P. Theagaraya Chetty, a founder and leader of the Justice Party and of the non-Brahmin movement, died in Madras.

Andhra University established by Madras Act

After a bill carried with Tamil votes, the Madras legislature set up Andhra University for the Presidency's Telugu districts.

P. Subbarayan forms independent ministry

After the Swaraj Party won the 1926 election but declined office, P. Subbarayan formed a ministry of independents with nominated support.

Death of the Raja of Panagal

Panaganti Ramarayaningar, the Raja of Panagal and Justice Party First Minister from 1921 to 1926, died in Madras.

Justice Party returns to power under B. Munuswamy Naidu

The Justice Party won the 1930 election, boycotted by the Congress, and B. Munuswamy Naidu became Premier.

Raja of Bobbili becomes Premier

The Raja of Bobbili, a zamindar, replaced B. Munuswamy Naidu as Premier and led the last Justice Party ministry before 1937.

Abhiramam convention against the Criminal Tribes Act

Muthuramalinga Thevar organised a convention at Abhiramam demanding repeal of the Criminal Tribes Act.

Swarajists largest party in 1934 Madras council election

The Swaraj Party won the most seats in the last dyarchy-era Madras council election but refused office; the Raja of Bobbili stayed on.

Viduthalai newspaper launched

Viduthalai began as a Justice Party bi-weekly and became a daily under Periyar in 1937.

P. T. Rajan becomes First Minister

For a few months, while the Raja of Bobbili was on leave, Justice Party leader P. T. Rajan was First Minister of the Madras Presidency.

Congress wins 1937 Madras Presidency election

The Indian National Congress won a large majority in the first Madras Legislative Assembly election under provincial autonomy, routing the Justice Party.

K. V. Reddi Naidu heads interim ministry

When the Congress hesitated to take office after winning the 1937 election, the Governor installed an interim ministry under K. V. Reddi Naidu.

Periyar jailed and elected Justice Party president

E. V. Ramasamy was imprisoned for his role in the anti-Hindi agitation and was elected president of the Justice Party while in jail.

Periyar raises 'Dravida Nadu for Dravidians'

Periyar swapped the slogan 'Tamil Nadu for Tamils' for 'Dravida Nadu for Dravidians', setting the Justice Party on a separatist course.

Justice Party becomes Dravidar Kazhagam at Salem

Meeting at Salem, the Justice Party, now led by Periyar, took the name Dravidar Kazhagam and gave up contesting elections.

A. Ramaswami Mudaliar becomes first ECOSOC president

Arcot Ramaswami Mudaliar, a Justice Party leader from Madras, was the first President of the UN Economic and Social Council.