Press AND Registration OF Books ACT 1867 PDF

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PRESS AND REGISTRATION OF BOOKS ACT 1867 WHAT THE LAW IS ABOUT: This act has been introduced to regulate printing-presses and

newspapers. It provides for the preservation of copies of books and newspapers printed in India and for the registration of such books and newspapers. The law applies to the whole of India. According to this act, "Book" includes every volume, part of division of a volume, and pamphlet, in any language, and every sheet of music, map, chart or plan separately printed. "Editor" means the person who controls the selection of the matter that is published in a newspaper. "Newspaper" means any printed periodical work containing public news or comments on public new" "Paper" means any document, including a newspaper, other than a book. "Press Registrar" means the Registrar of newspapers for India appointed by the Central Government. It includes any other person appointed by the Central Government to perform all or any of the functions of the Press Registrar; "Printing" includes cyclostyling and printing by lithography; OF PRINTING-PRESSES AND NEWSPAPERS

Some of the important provisions of this Act are as follows *Every book or paper printed within India shall have printed legibly on it the name of the printer and the place of printing, and (if the book or paper be published [the name] of the publisher and the place of publication. *If the place where a press is kept, is changed, a new declaration is necessary: Provided that where the change is for a period not exceeding sixty days and the keeper of the press continues to be the same. * Name of the person who is the editor, should be printed clearly on the copy of the newspaper. *The printer and the publisher of every such newspaper shall appear in person or by agent authorized, should make the following declaration: "I, A.B., declare that I am the printer (or publisher, or printer and publisher) of the newspaper titled and to be printed or published, or to be printed and published, as the case may be) at. . . ." *Every declaration shall specify the title of the newspaper, the language in which it is to be published and the periodicity of its publication. *Where the printer or publisher of a newspaper making a declaration is not the owner, the declaration shall specify the name of the owner. * Where the title of any newspaper or its language or the periodicity of its publication is changed, a new declaration shall be necessary before the publication of the newspaper can be continued. * A new declaration will have to be made with every ownership change. The same goes for the place of printing or publication: *Where a newspaper has ceased publication for a period exceeding twelve months, every declaration, a new declaration shall be necessary before the newspaper can be republished. *If any person, whose name has appeared as editor on a copy of a newspaper, claims that

he was not the editor of the issue on which his name has so appeared, he may, within two weeks of his becoming aware that his name has been so published, appear before a District, Presidency or Sub-divisional Magistrate and make a declaration that his name was incorrectly published in that issue. And if the Magistrate after making such inquiry that such declaration is true, he shall certify accordingly. *Any person aggrieved by an order of a Magistrate refusing to authenticate a declaration may, within sixty days from the date on which such order is communicated to him, make an appeal to the Appellate Board to be called the Press and Registration Appellate Board. *On receipt of an appeal, the Appellate Board may confirm, modify or set aside the order. WHAT’S THE PUNISHMENT: Whoever shall edit, print or publish any newspaper without following the rules laid down is liable to be punished with fine of not less than Rs 2000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both. *If any person who has ceased to be a printer or publisher of any newspaper fails or neglects to make a declaration shall be punishable by fine not exceeding Rs 200. REGISTRATION OF NEWSPAPERS

Under the Act, the central government may appoint a Registrar of Newspapers for India. He is required to do the following: *Maintain in the prescribed manner a Register of newspapers. *As far as may be practicable, the register may contain particulars such as: (a) Title of the newspaper (b) Language in which the newspaper is published (c) Periodicity of the publication of the newspaper (d) Name of the editor, printer and publisher of the newspaper (e) Place of printing and publication (f) Average number of pages per week (g) Number of days of publication in the year; (h) Average number of copies printed, the average number of copies sold to the public and the average number of copies distributed free to the public. (i) Retail selling price per copy; (j) Names and addresses of the owners of the newspaper. *On receiving a declaration in respect of a newspaper, and on the publication of such newspaper, the Press Registrar shall as soon as practicable thereafter, issue a certificate of registration in respect of that newspaper to the publisher. *The publisher of every newspaper shall furnish to the Press Registrar all details WHAT’S THE PUNISHMENT: If the publisher of any newspaper (a) refuses of neglects to follow the provisions or publishes in the newspaper any particulars relating to the newspaper which are false; he shall be punishable with fine, which may extend to Rs 500....