New Delhi, Feb 10, 2011 The Union Cabinet has decided to amend the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 to streamline the age-old processes and to address certain issues governed by the Print Media Policy and the guidelines/rules. The Press and Registration of Books Act (PRB Act) was enacted in 1867 to create a system for keeping a record of publications through regulation of printing presses and newspapers.
Till date, this is the sole Act governing the publication of newspapers in India. Apart from this, there is also a Print Media Policy of 1955 for regulation of publications, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. In addition, there have been guidelines/Rules made by Central Government from time to time to regulate various aspects of the print media.
Rationale for Change
The PRB Act, 1867 needs to be updated and revised to address certain issues governed by the Print Media Policy and the guidelines/rules. The Act has undergone minor amendments several times between 1870 & 1983 but there is a need to make the Act contemporary as the existing provisions of the Act are inadequate to cater to the phenomenal growth of the Print Media Sector especially in view of the liberalization of the Govt. policies.
The Print Media Policy of 1955 and the its guidelines are without any statutory backing under the PRB Act. Thus, in order to give statutory backing to the Print Media Policy/the various guidelines, to update the definitions of the various terms, to include new definitions and to include provisions for checking non-serious players, the amendments to the PRB Act are proposed.
Salient features of the Bill
* The new title would be Press and Registration of Books and Publications (PRBP) Act, 2010. – Section -1(1)
* Many new definitions such as ‘publications’, ‘newspapers’, ‘magazines’, ‘journals’, ‘newsletter’, ‘known foreign publication’ etc. would be inserted. – Section-2
* Editor redefined- The present Act is of pre independence era and the nomenclature/role of editor has since changed e.g. role of editor is also performed by sub-editor, chief editor etc. – Section-2(c)
* New Definitions-For magazines, journals, newsletters etc.- In the present Act, only newspapers has been defined as ‘any printed periodical work containing public news or comments on public news’. Thus, no distinction has been made between newspapers and magazines and other publications. At present, RNI registers all publications under the category of newspapers. In order to have a clear cut distinction between various genres of publications, an attempt has been made to define magazine, journals, newsletter etc. Further, some more new definitions have been included to cover terms such as foreign publications, facsimile edition, syndication etc. in view of opening up the sector to foreign publications and FDI. – Section- 2(h), (j), (k)
* Internet edition of newspapers is proposed to be covered under the Act. – Section- 2(d)
* Those convicted of terrorist act or anything done against the security of the State would be prevented from bringing out a publication. – Section -5
* Detailed provisions for verification of a title. – Section -6
* Presently, RNI has two stages to register a publication. At the first stage, a person applies for a title through the DM concerned. This is called verification (or allotment). At the second stage, after verification, he files for registration of the title. However, in the existing Act, there is no provision for title verification but the same is done as a prevalent practice.
* Provisions to prevent blocking of titles to discourage non-serious publishers.- Section -6(6) & (7)
* Filing of annual statements by publishers to be made compulsory.
* Annual Statement containing circulation claims along with other details about a publication, certified by a Chartered Accountant, is made mandatory. – Section -31(1)
* Registration of a publication which fails to submit Annual Statement for a consecutive period of three years may be cancelled. – Section-31(2)
* Provision made on circulation verification. Press Registrar General can get it done through his authorized officers or through CA firms. Expenditure, if circulation is checked on publication’s request, to be borne by the publication. This is because DAVP advertisement rates are fixed on circulation assessment. – Section-34
* Press Registrar re-designated as Press Registrar General – Section-28
* Enabling provisions with respect to limits on foreign news content (syndication) and foreign investments. – Section-9
Enhancement of penal provisions for violation of guidelines in terms of money. – Section -38 to 47
Imprisonment clause has been deleted for
i) those not printing details correctly in the imprintline as per Section-3. – Section-38
ii) owning printing press without filing declaration under Section-4. – Section-39
साभार : फर्स्टलाइव डॉट काम
