No Indian “shall by renson only of his roligion place of birth, descent, colour or any of them be disabled from holding any office of employment under the company”. This was pledge first given by the.

The Charter Act of 1833 was a landmark piece of legislation that first introduced a non-discrimination clause regarding employment under the East India Company. Section 87 of the Act explicitly stated that no native of India, nor any natural-born subject of His Majesty, should be disabled from holding any place, office, or employment by reason only of his religion, place of birth, descent, or colour [1]. This provision was intended to theoretically throw open the services to Indians, although it remained largely a 'dead letter' in practice due to opposition from the Court of Directors [1]. While the Queen's Proclamation of 1858 later reaffirmed this principle of impartial inclusion in the civil service, the pledge originated in the 1833 Act [1]. This legislative step marked the first formal recognition of the principle of merit and equality in British Indian administration, preceding later constitutional developments like Article 16 of the Indian Constitution [3].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Charter Act of 1853 > p. 514
2. [2] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 8: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES > p. 110
3. [3] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 8: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES > CHAP. 8] Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties 113 > p. 113