The Ilbert Bill controversy of 1883 concerned the right of Indian judges to try European offenders; it arose during the viceroyalty of

The Ilbert Bill, named after the law member Courtenay Ilbert, proposed that Indian judges could try Europeans in the districts. European opposition forced a compromise, showing that racial discrimination persisted, and encouraged Indians to organise politically. Ripon was a liberal Viceroy who also repealed the Vernacular Press Act. Lytton had passed that act, Dufferin saw the birth of the Congress, and Curzon came later.