The RowlattAct was passed in 1919 and basically authorised the government to imprison any person living in the Raj without trial on suspicion of being a terrorist.
These acts led to severe indignation from Indian leaders and the public which caused the government to implement repressive measures.
Some people who read this act found that constitutional opposition to the act was fruitless so on April 6th, a "hartal" was organised where Indians would suspend all business and fast as a sign of their hatred for this legislation.
As the Defence of India Act was to expire six months after the conclusion of the war, a new set of emergency measures for the detention and containment of 'terrorists' to meet what was termed the 'continuing threat' were planned by the Government of India.
The government could not have known that the RowlattAct would become the occasion for the most widespread movement of opposition to British rule since the Rebellion of 1857-58 and indeed the springboard from which the movement for independence would be launched until India was to become irretrievably lost to the British.
The RowlattAct provided for the trial of seditious crime by benches of three judges; the accused were not to have the benefit of either preliminary commitment proceedings or the right of appeal, and the rules under which evidence could be obtained and used were relaxed.
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