Annexure 5: Press Laws

Indian Penal Code, 1860: Several sections of the code are applicable to the press if it indulges in printing and publishing any matter that is considered as offenced and propagation of which is prohibited under the Code

The Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954: Section 3 and 3A require the publishers of all books and newspapers to deliver at their own expenses, one free copy of each issue of their publication, to each of the notified libraries

The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954

The Prize Competitions Act, 1955: Section 15 of the Act deals with forfeiture of newspapers and publications containing prize competitions conducted in contravention of the provisions of the Act

Hindu Marriages Act, 1955: Section 22 prohibits the publication of proceedings under the Act held in camera

The Copyright Act, 1957: Section 52 (1)(n) – Publication in newspaper, magazine or other periodical of a lecture delivered in public

Atomic Energy Act, 1992: Section 18(1)-Restriction on disclosure of certain categories of information

The Civil Defence Act, 1968: Section 3(1) w(i) & (ii)-Prohibition of printing and publication of any newspaper, book or other document containing matters prejudicial to the civil defence and power to demand security from a press and to forfeit the security

The Contempt of Court Act, 1971: The provisions of the Act that are applicable to the press relate to the publication of material which interferes with or undermines the administration of justice or has a tendency to do so. Sections 3 to 7 deal with published material that do not lead to contempt proceedings

The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986: Section 4-Prohibtion of publication or sending by post of books, pamphlets, etc., containing indecent representation of women

Parliament Proceedings (Protection and Publication) Act, 1977-Gives immunity to the press in regard to faithful reporting of parliamentary proceedings of either house of Parliament

Art 316 A-Protection of Publication of Proceedings of Parliament and State Legislatures-Inserted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment Act,1978), gives constitutional sanctity to the above Act extending the immunity to proceedings of State Legislatures

Official Secrets Act, 1923-Deals with two kinds of punishable offences: (1) spying (Section 2) and wrongful disclosure of secret information (Section 5)

Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 (as amended in September 2000)

Press and Registration of Books Act (1867).