Dear Students,
Please read the given acts and prepare your questions for friday session.
Lord Wellesley’s Press Act, 1799
(Prior Censorship Act)
Muniruddin stated following regulations in his book:-
- “The newspaper to clearly print in every issue the name of the printer, the editor and the proprietor.
- The publisher to submit all material for pre- censorship to the Secretary to the Government.”
(P- 24, 25)
Abduls Salaam Khurshid has also described some more rules in his book:-
- “No paper will be published on Sunday.
- No publication without prior inspection by the Secretary to the Government.
- Offending any law would result into immediate embarkation to Europe.”
The Press Act, 1801
“In 1801, Calcutta Gazette published a public notice that newspapers need prior sanction to publish the following:-
- Military Order.
- Army List.
- Books, pamphlets or any printing material relating to Military affairs.”
The Press Act, 1813
Abduls Salaam Khurshid stated following regulations in his book:-
- “The proof sheets of all newspapers, including supplements and all extra publication should be sent to the Secretary to the Government before publication.
- In the same way, the proof sheets of all advertisements should be sent to the Secretary of the Government before publication.
- Titles of all original works, proposed to be published, should also be sent to the Secretary.
- The rules established before, would remain in full force.”
The Press Act, 1818
Abduls Salaam Khurshid wrote in his book:-
“Lord Hastings issued directions for the newspapers that they should not publish:
- Hostility towards the actions of Court of Directors or Public Institutions of England associated with Indian Government, criticism on the accords or political judgments regarding stability of the sub-continent.
- Discussions or material that would likely to affect the authority of the government or injurious to public interest.
The Licensing Regulations, 1823
Abduls Salaam Khurshid stated following regulations in his book:-
- “Every printer and publisher to obtain a license from the Governor General for starting a press or using it.
- The application for obtaining a license must contain names of the newspaper, editor, printer and its owner.
- In case of hiring or firing of any person associated with the paper, the Governor General should be informed.
- The Governor General had the right to revoke a license or call for a fresh application.
- The penalty for printing or publishing any literature without the requisite license was Rs. 400 for each such publication or imprisonment in default thereof. Magistrates were authorized to attach unlicensed presses.”
- The Metcalf’s Act, 1835
- Abduls Salaam Khurshid wrote in his book:-
- “A declaration would be needed to publish a newspaper. If place of printing would be changed, a new declaration would have to be submit.
- The Printer and publisher would be responsible for the material published in a newspaper.
- The printer and publisher of every newspaper would be required to declare the location of the premises of its publication.
- Violation would be five thousand rupees fine and two year imprisonment.”
The Licensing Act, 1857
Muniruddin stated following regulations in his book:-
- “The Act prohibited the keeping or using of printing press without a license from the Government.
- The Government reserved the discretionary right to grant licenses or revoke them at any time.
- The Government was also empowered to prohibit the publication or circulation of any newspaper, book or other printed matter.
- In case of violation the Government will seize the printing press.
(P-26)
All the best.
mycommunicationcourse 