The Tamil Nadu Dramatic Performances Act, 1954

(1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Dramatic Performances Act, 1954. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Tamil Nadu.

(i) "objectionable performance" means any play, pantomime or other drama which is likely to- (i) incite any person to resort to violence or sabotage for the purpose of overthrowing or undermining the Government established by law in India or in any State thereof or its authority in any area; (ii) incite any person to commit murder, sabotage or any offence involving violence; or (iii) seduce any member of any of the armed forces of the Union or of the police forces from his allegiance or his duty, or prejudice the recruiting of persons to serve in any such force or prejudice the discipline of any such force; or (iv) incite any section of the citizens of India to acts of violence against any other section of the citizens of India; or which- (v) is deliberately intended to outranc the religious feeling of any class of the citizens of India by insulting or blaspheming or profaning the religion or the religious beliefs of that class; (vi) is grossly indecent, or is scurrilous or obscene or intended for blackmail; and includes any indecent or obscene dance. Explanation 4.--A performance shall not be deemed to be objectionable merely because in the course thereof words are uttered, or signs or visible representations are made, expressing disapprobation or criticism of any law or of any policy or administrative action of the Government with a view to obtain its alteration or redress by lawful means.

A copy of the order made under section 3, sub-section (1), or under section 4, sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), may be served personally or in such other manner as may be prescribed by rules made under section 13, on the organisers or other principal persons responsible for the conduct of, or any person about to take part in the performance so prohibited or on the owner or occupier of the public place, in which such performance is intended to take place.

Any person on whom a copy of the order referred to in section 3 or section 4 is served and who does, or willingly permits, any act in disobedience of such order, shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

(1) Any person who, after the publication of an order under section 3, sub-section (1), or during the period when an order made under section 4, sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), is in force organises or is responsible for the conduct of or who with the knowledge that such an order under section 3 or section 4 is in force takes part in, the performance prohibited thereby or any performance substantially the same as the performance so prohibited, shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. (2) Any person who being the owner or occupier, or having the use of any public place, opens, keeps or uses the same for any performance prohibited under section 3 or section 4, or permits the same to be opened, kept or used for any such performance, shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

(1) For the purpose of ascertaining the character of any intended play, pantomime or other drama, the State Government, or such officer as they may empower in this behalf, may, by order, require the organisers or other principal persons responsible for the conduct of, or other persons about to take part in, such play, pantomime or other drama or the author, proprietor or printer of the play, pantomime or other drama about to be performed, or the owner or occupier of the place in which it is intended to be performed, to furnish such information as the State Government or such officer may think necessary. (2) Every person so required shall be bound to furnish information to the best of his ability within the time fixed in such order and in case of contravention shall be deemed to have committed an offence under section 176 of the Indian Penal Code (Central Act XLV of 1860).

(1) If the State Government or in the Presidency-town the Commissioner of Police or elsewhere the District Collector, have or has reason to believe that an objectionable dramatic performance is about to take place, they, or he, as the case may be, may, by order, direct that no such dramatic performance shall take place in any public place within any area, unless a copy of the piece, if and so far as it is written, or some sufficient account of its purport, if and so far as it is in pantomime, has been furnished, not less than seven days before the performance, to the State Government, the Commissioner of Police or the District Collector aforesaid.

(1) Any person aggrieved by an order under section 3, sub-section (1), or under section 4, sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), may, within sixty days of the publication of such order under section 3, sub-section (3), or, as the case may be, within sixty days of the date on which an order under section 4, sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), is made, prefer an appeal to the High Court: and upon such appeal, the High Court may pass such orders as it deems fit confirming, varying or reversing the order appealed from, and may pass such consequential or incidental orders as may be necessary. (2) Every such appeal shall be heard by a Bench of not less than two Judges.

Where an order under section 3 or section 4 has been made in respect of any performance, nothing in this Act shall bar a prosecution under the Indian Penal Code (Central Act XLV of 1860) or any other law.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall be instituted against any authority or officer for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or any rule made thereunder.

(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Fort St. George Gazette, make rules to carry out the purpose of this Act. (2) All rules made by the State Government under sub-section (1) shall, as soon as possible after they are made, be laid on the table of the Houses of the Legislature.

The Dramatic Performances Act, 1876 (Central Act XIX of 1876), shall cease to be in force in the State.