To suppress the rising revolutionary activities in India, the British government appointed the Sedition Committee in 1917 under Justice Sir Sidney Rowlatt. On its recommendations, 'The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919' (popularly known as the Rowlatt Act) was passed in March 1919. It authorized the government to detain and imprison any person on mere suspicion without trial for up to two years, earning it the moniker 'no lawyer, no appeal, no argument' (Bina Vakil, Bina Appeal, Bina Daleel).