The Punjab Special Powers (Press) Act, 1956

The Punjab Special Powers (Press) Act, 1956

Act 38 of 1956

Keyword(s): Public Harmony, Public Order, Printer, Publisher, Editor

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THE PUNJAB SPECIAL POWERS (PRESS) ACT. 1956.

(1) This Act may be called the Punjab Special Powers (Press) Act, 1956. (2) It extends to the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Punjab Reorganisarion Acr, 1966. (3) It shall come into force at once.

(1) The State Government or any authority so authorisecl in this beh~lfif satisfied that such action is necessary for the purposes of preventing or colnbnting any activity prejudicial to the maintenance of communal harmony affecrii~g or iikely to affect public order may by order in writing nddresscd to a painter, publisher or editor,- (a) prohibit the printing or publication in any document or any class of documenis of any matter relating to a particular subject or class of subjccts for a specified period or in :I particular iswe ur issues of a rlewspaper or periodical : Provided that no such order shall remain In force for more than two months from the making thereof, unless before the expiry of such period the State Government, by an order made in the like manner, extends it by any period not exceeding two mvllths at a time as it thinks fit so, however, illat the' total period of the original 2rdcr does not exceed six months ; Provided further that he person against whom the order has been made may w~thin ten clays ol'the p;~sc~i?g of this order malce a representation to the State Government ~~iilich may on consider2tlosz thereof modify, confirill or rescind the order ; (b) require that any matter, covering not more than two columns, be published in any particular issue or isrues of a newspaper or pesiodical on payment of adequate remuneration, and may while doing so, specify the period (not exceeding one week) during which and the manner in ivl-tich such publicatiori shall take place ; (c) requirethat any matter relating to a particular subject or class of subjects, shall befare publication be subi~littecl for scrutiny by an authority appointed by !he State Government, in its behalf and published only in accordance wilh the directions given thereat. (2) In the event of disobedience of an order under this section, the State Government or the authority issuing the order may,without prejudice to the other penalty to which the person guilty of the disobedience is liable under this Act, order the seizure of all copies of any publication concerned and of any printing press or other instrument or apparatus used in the publication.

(1) The State Government or any authority authorised by it in this behalf if satisfied that such action is necessary for the purpose of preventing or combating any activity of prejudicial to the maintenance of communal harmony affecting or likely to affect public order, may, by order notified in the Official Gazette, prohibit the bringinginto the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 5 ofthe Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 of any newspaper, periodical, leaflet or other publication : Provided that no such order shall remain in force for more than two months from the making thereof, unless before the expiry of such period the State Government, by an order made in the like manner, extends it by any period not exceeding two months at a time as it thinks fit so, however, that the total period of the original order does not exceed six months : Provided further that the person aggrieved by such order may, within ten days of the passing thereof,-make a representation to the State Government which may on consideration thereof modify, confirm or rescind the order. (2) Inthe event of disobedierlce of an order under this section the State Government or the authority issuing the order, may, without prejudice to the other penalty to which the person guilty of tbe disobedience is liable under this Act, order the seizure of all copies of any newspaper, periodical, leaflet or other publication concerned.

Whoever contravenes, disobeys or neglects to comply with any order made or direction given under sections 2 and 3 of this Act, shall, on conviction, be liable to be punished with imprisonment of either description which may extend to one year or with fine up to Rs. 1,000 or with both.