The positive impact of reform was seriously undermined in 1919 by the Rowlatt Act , named after the recommendations made the previous year to the Imperial Legislative Council by the Rowlatt Commission , which had been appointed to investigate `` seditious conspiracy . '' The positive impact of reform was seriously undermined in 1919 by the Rowlatt Act , named after the recommendations made the previous year to the Imperial Legislative Council by the Rowlatt Commission , which had been appointed to investigate what was termed the `` seditious conspiracy '' and the German and Bolshevik involvement in the militant movements in India .