The Andhra Pradesh Prevention of Disfigurement of Open Places and Prohibition of Obscene and Objectionable Posters and Advertisements Act, 1997
The Andhra Pradesh Prevention of Disfigurement of Open Places and Prohibition of Obscene and Objectionable Posters and Advertisements Act, 1997
This law regulates the public display of advertisements and posters across the state of Andhra Pradesh. Applying to any individual, company, printer, or publisher, the legislation prohibits defacing public or private property with advertisements without obtaining the owner's prior written consent. It strictly bans obscene movie posters and advertisements that incite violence, promote class disharmony, or spark religious outrage. This Act matters because it safeguards the visual environment of public spaces from unauthorized defacement, preserves community aesthetics, and maintains public order and decency by empowering police to seize illegal materials and punishing convicted offenders with fines or prison terms.
- 0. Preamble
- 1. Short title, extent and commencement -(1) This Act may be called the
- 2. Definitions -In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
- 3. Penalty for disfigurement by objectionable advertisements
- 4. Penalty for unauthorised disfigurement by advertisements
- 5. Punishment of abetters -Whoever in any manner whatsoever causes,
- 6. Power to remove, erase, pull down and destroy objectionable advertisements
- 7. Obscene Poster -A poster shall be deemed to be ‘obscene’ if,-
- 8. Prohibiting of printing, publishing or displaying obscene posters
- 9. Constitution of Authority for determination of questions relating to obscenity of poster
- 10. Penalty -Every person who contravenes the provision of section 8 shall,
- 11. Power to make search and seizure -(1) The Commissioner of Police in the
- 12. Forfeiture -Where a person has been convicted by any court for
- 13. Compounding of offences -(1) The Commissioner of Police in the twin
- 14. Offences byCompanies -(1) Where an offence has been committed by a
- 15. Certain offences to be cognizable -Notwithstanding anything contained
- 16. Cognizance of offences -No court shall take cognizance of any offence
- 17. Commissioner of Police or by any Police Officer not below the rank of an Inspector of Police authorised
- 18. Burden of proof in certain cases -Where a person is prosecuted for
- 19. Power to issue directions -The Government may, from time to time, issue
- 20. Act to override other laws -The provisions of this Act and the rules made
- 21. Power to remove difficulties -(1) The Government may for the purposes
- 22. Power to make rules -(1) The Government may by notification, make
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