Rowlatt Act: Detention Without Trial Feature

The question asks to identify the legislation that permitted the detention of political prisoners without a trial for a period of two years. This was a significant aspect of British colonial policy in India.

Analyzing the Provisions

The Rowlatt Act (officially the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919) introduced measures that allowed for:

• Detention of individuals suspected of treason, seditious activities, or terrorism.
• Suspension of specific legal protections, including the requirement for judicial trial.
• Imprisonment for up to two years without trial for those deemed a threat by the government.

This act aimed to suppress perceived revolutionary activities but was widely criticized for its repressive nature, leading to protests like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Evaluating Other Options

The other options represent different legislative contexts:

• East India Stock Dividend Redemption Act (1874): This act dealt with the financial affairs and redemption of stock related to the East India Company after its dissolution, not political detention.
• British India Regulating Act (1773): This was one of the first acts by the British Parliament to regulate the EIC's administration and governance in India. It focused on political and administrative structures, not specific detention laws like the Rowlatt Act.
• Government of India Act (various years, e.g., 1909, 1915, 1919, 1935): These acts primarily concerned the constitutional framework, legislative powers, and administrative reforms in British India. While they shaped governance, the specific provision for two-year detention without trial without trial was characteristic of the Rowlatt Act.

Therefore, the Rowlatt Act is the correct answer as it specifically contained provisions for the extended detention of political prisoners without trial.