Power of State Government or licensing authority to suspend exhibition of films in certain cases

(1) The State Government in respect of the whole of the State or any part thereof, and the licensing authority in respect of the area within its jurisdiction, may, if it is of opinion that any film, which is being or is about to be publicly exhibited is likely to cause a breach of the peace, by order, suspend the exhibition of such film; and during the period of such suspension no person shall exhibit such film or permit it to be exhibited in any place in the State or any part or area thereof, as the case may be. (2) No order shall be issued under sub-section (1) until the person concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the order proposed to be issued in regard to him; unless owing to emergency or for some other reason, to be recorded in writing, the State Government or the licensing authority is satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable to give that person an opportunity of showing cause: Provided that a copy of the reasons recorded by the State Government or the licensing authority for issuing the order shall be communicated to the person concerned as soon as it becomes reasonably practicable to communicate the reason to him. (3) If any question arises whether it is reasonably practicable to give to any person an opportunity of showing cause under sub-section (2), the decision thereon of the State Government or the licensing authority, as the case may be, shall be final. (4) Where an order under sub-section (1) has been issued by the licensing authority, a copy thereof together with a statement of the reasons therefor, shall forthwith be forwarded by him to the State Government and the State Government may, on a consideration of all the facts of the case, either confirm or vary or cancel the order. (5) An order issued under sub-section (1) shall remain in force for a period of two weeks from the date thereof, but the State Government may, if it is of opinion that the order should continue in force, direct that the period of suspension shall be extended by such further period or periods not exceeding two months in the aggregate, as it thinks fit: Provided that the State Government or the licensing authority may, at any time review its own order.