The Punjab Special Powers (Press) Act, 1956

1956 : Pb. Act XXXVIH] SPECIAL POWERS (PRESS) 401 THE PUNJAB SPECIAL POWERS (PRESS) ACT, 1956, Arrangement of sections Sections 1. Short title, extent and commencement, 2. Power to control publications, 3. Power to prohibit entry into Union Terri Chandigarh of news papers, eto. sl 4. Penalty. A PUNJAB SPECIAL POWERS oy ACT, 1956, RS (PRESS) Received the assent of the Pf.l’.fillellf of India on 1, 1ok October, 1956, and first published for gcn:zral I'r'rfo,;f mation in the Punjab Government Gazette (Extra- of the 25th October, 1956) ordinary) —————— 1 2 3 4 e o year | No. Short title Whether affected by later legislaticn 1956 | 38 | The Punjab Special Pow-| Extended to the territories which, ers (Press) Act, 1956 immediately before the Ist November, 1956, were comprised in the State of Patiala and East Punjab States Union by Punjab Act No. 5 of 1957.¢ Amended by— Punjab Act No. 40 of 1957.2 Punjab Act No. 29 of 1960.4 Amended by the Punjab Re-organica- tion (Chandigarh) (Adaption of Laws State and Concurrent Subjects) Order, 1968. . Beitenacted by the Legislature of the State of Punjab in the Seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows :— 1. (I) This Act may be called the Punjab Speical Powers (Press) Act, 1956. (2) It extends to the [Union territory of Chandigarh]. — (3) It shall come into force at once. . — e - 1For Statement of Objects and Reason, see Punjab Government Gazelle (Exra- ordinary), 1956, page 1149. For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Punjab Government Gazeite (Extraordinary), 1957, page 339, ( *.For Statoment of Objects and Reasons, see Punjub Government Gagette Extraordinary), 1957, page 1662. (E: “For Statoment of Objects and Reasons, see Punjab Governmext Gazelte Xtraordinary), 1960, page 1912. “.Substituted for the words *‘State of Punjab’ by the Punjab Re-organisation handigarh) (Adaptation of Laws on State and Concurrent Sulchcls) Order, 1968. 2. (D The 'ECcnlml Government1 or ap so authorised in { necessary for the purp activity harmony by order editor,— (a) prohibit the printing or ®) his behalf if satisfied (hat suz Mthoriy, ] ose of preventing or °0mba‘:?:1‘°“ is prejudicial 1o the maintenance of comgflt\y affecting or likely to affect public Ordermunal in writing addressed to a printer, publi s> M sher o publication in document or any class of documents of > f : ments matter relating to a particular s ubject ngci?s of subjects for a specified period or $ ) : in a part. cular issue or issues of a newspaper or Perio. dical : 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 '[Central Government], by an order made in the like manner, exfends it by any period not exceeding two months at a time asit thinks fit so, however, that the total period of the original order does not exceed six months: ] Provided further that the person against whom the order has been made may within ten days of the passing of this order make a representation to the [Central Government] which may °f consideration thereof modify, confirm or resind the order ; require that any matter, covering not nmrci:mnr two columns, be published in any par.\m‘“cn issue or issues of a newspaper Or P¢ nd may payment of adequate remuneration, &0 cc.. while doing so, specify the period na manne? ding one week) during which and \h:e place in which such publication shall 12 ¢) require that any matter rela(j ; © subject or class of subjects, ';llil;alt]obzfgfgllclg'a_r cation be submilted for scrutiny by an a’ffih i rity appoinied by the [Central Governmen(fi in its behalf and published only in accordance with the directions given {herea. 2) In the event of disobedience of an order un i section, the [Central Government] or the authorily?:;ulilr]:; 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. 3. 2[(1) The '[Central Government] or any authority aut- ) horised by it in this behalf, if satisfied that such action is necessary for the purpose of preventing or combating any activity prejudicial to the maintenance of communal har- mony affecting or likely to affect public_order, may by ' order notified in the official Gazette, prohibit the bringing into ®[Union territory of Chandigarh] of any newspaper, periodical, leaflet or other publication: Provided that no such order shall remaininforce for more than two months from the making thereof i’:['unless before the expiry of such period the [Central overnment], by an order made in the like manner, extends to by any period not exceeding two months at a time as it thinks fit so, however, that the total period of the origirfal order does not exceed six months] : Provided further thata personaggrieved by such order may, within ten days of the passing thereof, make a representation to the ’[Central Government] hereof modify, confirm or Which may on consideration t rescind the order. ".‘7 ' o 1" by the Punjab Re-organisa- Substituted for the words “‘State Governr o and Concurrent Subjects) lion (Chandj ; Order, I%B‘.’lflflfll) (Adaptation of Laws on *Substituted by Punjab Act No. 40 of 1957 section 2. sSubstituted f wpunjab” by the Pupjab Re-organisation g&:“hh) (:dlp!:rio::hco{wogws o: JSmc and Concurrent Subject) Order, 2) In the event of disobedience of an order - (se)cfion. the [Central Government] or the aut}‘fggfr issuing the order, may, without prejudice to the Othey penalty to which the person guilty of the disobedience ir liable under this Act, order the seizure of all copies of ans newspaper, periodical, leaflet or other publication cOny_ cerned. 4. Whoever contravenes, disobeys_ or neglects (o comply with any order made or direction given unger sections 2 and 3 of this Act, shall, on conyiction, be liabe to be punished with imprisorment of either description which may extend to one year or with fine up to one ?hou. sand rupees or with both. Substituted for the words *‘State Government”’ by the Punjab Re-organisation (Chandigarh) (Adaptation of Laws on State and Concurrent Subjects) Order, 1968,