#THE PRESS AND REGISTRATION OF BOOKS ACT, 1867 
__________ 

##ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
__________ 

###PREAMBLE 

CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

SECTIONS 
1. Interpretation-clause.
2. [Repealed.].

###PART II

###OF PRINTING-PRESSES AND NEWSPAPERS 

3. Particulars to be printed on books and papers.

4. Keeper of printing-press to make declaration. 

5. Rules as to publication of newspapers.

5A. Keepers  of  printing-presses  and  printers  and  publishers  of  newspapers in  Jammu 
and Kashmir to make and subscribe fresh declarations  withinspecified period. 

6. Authentication of declaration. 
Deposit. 
Inspection and supply of copies. 

7. Office copy of declaration to be prima facie evidence. 

8. New declaration by persons who have signed a declaration and subsequently ceased to be 
printers or publishers. 

Authentication and filing. 

Inspection and supply of copies. 

Putting copy in evidence. 

8A. Person  whose  name  has  been  incorrectly  published  as  editor  may  make a declaration 
before a Magistrate. 

8B. Cancellation of declaration. 

8C. Appeal. 

###PART III 

###DELIVERYOF BOOKS 

9. Copies  of  books  printed  after  commencement  of  Act  to  be  delivered  gratisto 
Government. 

10. Receipt for copies delivered under section 9. 

11. Disposal of copies delivered under section 9.  

11A. Copies of newspaper printed in India to be delivered gratis to Government. 

11B. Copies of newspapers to be delivered to Press Registrar. 

###PART IV 

###PENALTIES

12. Penalty for printing contrary to rule in section 3. 

13. Penalty for keeping press without making declaration required by section 4. 

14. Punishment for making false statement.  

15. Penalty for printing or publishing newspaper without conforming to rules. 

15A. Penalty for failure to make a declaration under section 8. 

16. Penalty for not delivering books or not supplying printer with maps. 

16A. Penalty for failure to supply copies of newspapers gratis to Government. 

16B. Penalty for failure to supply copies of newspapers to Press Registrar. 

17. Recovery of forfeitures and disposal thereof and of fines. 

###PART V 

###REGISTRATION OF BOOKS 

18. Registration of memoranda of books. 

19. Publication of memoranda registered.   

###PART VA 

###REGISTRATION OF NEWSPAPERS 

19A. Appointment of Press Registrar and other officers. 

19B. Register of newspapers.  

19C. Certificates of registration. 

19D. Annual statement, etc., to be furnished by newspapers.  

19E. Returns and reports to be furnished by 'newspapers. 

19F. Right of access to records and documents. 

19G. Annual report. 

19H. Furnishing of copies of extracts from Register.  

19-I. Delegation of powers.  

19J. Press Registrar and other officers to be public servants.  

19K. Penalty for contravention of section 19D or section 19E, etc. 

19L. Penalty for improper disclosure of information. 

###PART VI 

###MISCELLANEOUS 

20. Power of State Government to make rules. 

20A. Power of Central Government to make rules. 

20B. Rules made under this Act may provide that contravention thereof shall be punishable. 

21. Power to exclude any class of books from operation of Act. 

22. Extent.  

23. [Repealed.].
 

 
#THE PRESS AND REGISTRATION OF BOOKS ACT, 1867 [^1]

##ACT NO. 25 OF 1867 

[22nd March, 1867.] 

An Act for the regulation of Printing-presses and Newspapers, for the  preservation  of  copies  of  books 
and newspapers printed in India, and for the registration of such books and newspapers.

Preamble.—WHEREAS  it  is  expedient  to  provide  for  the  regulation  of  printing-presses  and  of 
newspapers, for the preservation of copies of every book and newspaper printed in India and for 
the registration of such books and newspapers; It is hereby enacted as follows:— 

###PART I 

###PRELIMINARY

1. **Interpretation-clause.**—(1) In this Act, unless there shall be something repugnant in the subject 
or context,— 



[^1]. Short title given by the Indian Short Titles Act, 1897 (14 o f 1897). 
	For  Statement  of  Objects  and  Reasons,  see  Gazette  of  India,  1867,  p.  191;  and  for  Proceedings  in  Council,  see 
ibid.,Supplement, pp. 72, 156 and 299. 
	This Act was declared by the Laws Local Extent Act, 1874 (15 of 1874), s. 3 to be in force in all the Provines of India, 
except the Scheduled Districts.
	It has heen applied to the SanthalParganas by the SanthalParganas Settlement  Regulation  (3 of 1872 ), s,3; to 
the  Khondmals  District  by  the  Khondmals  Laws  Regulation,  1936  (4  of  1936),  s.  3  and  Sch.;  and  to  the  Angul 
District by the Angul Laws Regulation, 1936 (5 of 1936), s. 3 and Sch. 
	It has been extended to Goa, Daman and Diu with modifications by Reg. 12 of 1962, s.3 and Sch.; to Dadra and Nagar 
Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and Sch. I (w.e.f. 1-7-1965) and to Pondicherry by Reg. 7 of 1963, s, 3 and Sch.I (w.e.f. 1-10-
1963).
	It  has  been  applied,  by  notification  under  s.  3(a)  of  the  Scheduled  Districts  Act,  1874  (14  of  1874),  to  the  following 
Scheduled Districts, namely: — 
		the Territory of Peint, see Gazette of India, 1887, Pt. I, p.144 (Peint is now  no longer a Scheduled District, 
	and  all  the  enactments  in  force  in  the  Nasik  District  of  the  Bombay  Presidency,  among  them  Act  25  of  1867, 
	are now in force in this territory), see the Peint Laws Act, 1894 (Bom. Act 2 of 1894). 
		the Island of Perim, see Gazette of India, 1887, Pt. I, p. 5; 
		that portion of  the  Jalpaiguri District  which  was  formerly  the  Jalpaiguri  Sub -division  and  now  form’s  the 
	western  portion  of  the  District  of  Jalpaiguri  and  extends  as  far  east  as  the  Teesta  River,  the  hills  west  of  the 
	Teesta River in the District of Darjiling, the DarjilingTarai, the Damson Sub-division of the Darjiling District, 
	the Districts of Hazaribagh [Lohardaga now called the Ranchi District,  see Calcutta Gazette, 1899, Pt. I,p. 44] 
	and Manbhum, and ParganaDhalbhum and the Kolhan in the District of Singhbhum,  see Gazette of India, 1881, 
	Pt. I, pp. 74 and 504; the Western Duars of the Jalpaiguri District,  see ibid.,1910, Pt. I, p,1160; 
		the Districts of Kumaon and Garhwal, see Gazette of India, 1876, Pt. I, p. 605; 
		the scheduled portion of the Mirzapur District, see Gazette of India, 1879, Pt.. I, P. 383; 
		ParganaJaunsarBawar in the Dehra Dun District, see Gazette of India, 1897, Pt. I, p. 382; 
		the Districts of Kamrup, Nowgong, Darrang, Sibsagar, Lakimpur, Goalpara (excluding the Eastern  
		Duars and Cacharexcluding the North Cachar Hills), see Gazette of India, 1878, Pt. I, p. 533; 
		theGaro  Hills,  the  Khasi  and  Jaintia  Hills,  the  Naga  Hills,  the  North  Cachar  Hills  in  theCachar 
	District and the Eastern Duars in the Goalpara District,  see Gazette of India, 1897, Pt. I, p.299. 
	It has been declared by notification under s. 3(b) of the Scheduled Districts Act, 1874 (14 of 1874) not to be in force in 
the Scheduled District of Lahaul in the Punjab, see Gazette of India, 1886, Pt. I, p. 301. 
	It has been extended, by notification under s. 5 of the Scheduled D istricts Act, 1874 (14 of 1874), to  the Tara 
District of  the Province of  Agra,  see  Gazette  of  India, 1876, Pt.  I, p. 506,  to the  District  of  Coorg,  see  ibid.  1918, 
Pt.II, p. 1730. 
	It has also been extended to Berar by the Berar Laws Act, 1941 (4 of 1941).  
	It  has  been  amended  in  its  application  to  Andhra  by  Andhra  Act  8  of  1960;  Madras  by  Madras  Act s  24  of 
1948 and 14 of 1960; Punjab by Punjab Acts 14 of 1942, 25 of 1950 and 15 of 1957; Mysore by Mysore Act 10 
of 1972; and Himachal Pradesh by Himachal Pradesh Act 17 of 1974.

 

“Book”  includes  every  volume,  part  or  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 publishedin a newspaper;

“Magistrate”  means any person exercising the  full powers of a Magistrate, and includes a Magistrate of 
police.

“newspaper”means any printed periodical work containing public news or comments on public news;

“paper”means any document, including a newspaper, other than a book; 

“prescribed”means prescribed by rules made by the Central Government under section 20A; 

“Press Registrar” means the Registrar of newspapers for India appointed by the Central Government under 
section 19A and 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; 

“Register” means the Register of newspapers maintained under section 198.] 

(2) Any reference in this Act to any law which is not in force in the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall, in 
relation to that State, be construed as a reference to the corresponding law in force in that State.] 

##STATE AMENDMENT 

**Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (UTs).**— 

Section 1.—Omit sub-section (2).

[*Vide* the  Jammu  and  Kashmir  Reorganization  (Adaptation  of  Central  Laws)  Order,  2020,  notification  No.  S.O. 
1123(E) dated (18-3-2020) and *vide* Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 
2020, notification No. S.O. 3774(E), dated (23-10-2020).]

##STATE AMENDMENT 

**KARNATAKA**

In  section  1,  for  the  words,  “Magistrate  of  means  any  person  exercising  full  powers  of  a  magistrate  and 
includes as magistrate of Police” the words, “Magistrate” means Judicial Magistrate shall be substituted. 
[Vide Karnataka Act 13 of 1956, s. 67 and Schedule] 

2. *[Repeal ofAct 11 of 1835.] Rep. by the Repealing Act, 1870 (14 of 1870), s. 1 and the Second Schedule.*

###PART II 

###OF PRINTING-PRESSESAND NEWSPAPERS 

3. **Particulars to be printed on books and papers.**—Everybook 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)  13[the 
name] of the publisher, and the place of publication.

4. **Keeper of printing-presses, to make declaration.**—(1) No person shall within “India, keep 
in his possession any press for the printing of books or papers, who shall not have made and subscribed 
the  following  declaration  before the District, Presidency or Sub-divisional Magistrate within  whose 
local jurisdiction such press may be:
 
“I, A. B., declare that I have a press for printing at,—” 

And this last blank shall be filled up with a true and precise description of the place where such press 
may be situate. 

(2) As often as the place where a press is kept is changed, a new declaration shall be 
necessary: 

Provided  that  where  the  change  is  for  a  period  not  exceeding  sixty  days  and  the  place 
where  the  press  is  kept  after  the  change  is  within  the  local  jurisdiction  of  the  Magistrate 
referred to in sub-section (1),no new declaration shall be necessary if — 

(a) a statement relating to the change is furnished to the said Magistrate within twenty-four hours 
thereof; and 

(b) the keeper of the press continues to be the same.

5. **Rules as to publication of newspapers.** —No newspaper shall be published in India except 
in conformity with the rules hereinafter laid down:

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 3, every copy of every such newspaper 
shall contain the names of the owner and editor  thereof printed clearly on such copy and also 
the date of its publication.

(2) The printer and the publisher of every such newspaper shall appear in person or by agent 
authorised in this behalf in accordance with rules made under section 20, before a District, Presidency or 
Sub-divisional Magistrate within  whose local jurisdiction such  newspaper shall be  printed  or published 
and shall make and subscribe, in duplicate, the following declaration:

“I, A. B., declare that I am the printer (or publisher, or printer and publisher) of the6[newspaper]9[and 
to be printed or published, or to be printed and published], asthe case may be at—.” 

And the last blank in this form of declaration shall be filled up with a true and precise account of the 
premises where the printing or publication is conducted. 

(2A) Every declaration under rule (2) shall specify the title of the newspaper, the language 
in which it is to be published and the periodicity of its publication and shall contain such other 
particulars as may be prescribed.

(2B) Where the printer or publisher of a newspaper making a declaration under rule ( 2)is 
not  the  owner  thereof,  the  declaration  shall  specify  the  name  of  the  owner  and  shall  also  be 
accompanied  by  an  authority  in  writing  from  t he  owner  authorising  such  person  to  make  and 
subscribe such declaration.

(2C) A declaration in respect of a newspaper made under rule (2) and authenticated under 
section 6 shall be necessary before the newspaper can be published.

(2D) Where the title of any newspaper or its language or the periodicity of its publication 
is  changed,  the  declaration  shall  cease  to  have  effect  and  a  new  declaration  shall  be 
necessary before the publication of the newspaper can be continued.
 
(2E) As often as the ownership of a newspaper is changed, a new declaration shall be 
necessary.

(3) As  often  as  the  place  of  printing  or  publication  is  changed,  a  new  declaration  shall  be 
necessary: 

Provided that where the change is for a period not exceeding thirty days and the place 
of  printing  or  publication after  the  change  is within the local jurisdiction  of  the  Magistrate 
referred to in rule (2),no new declaration shall be necessary if — 

(a) a statement relating to the change is furnished to the said Magistrate within twenty-four hours 
thereof; and 

(b)the printer or publisher or the printer and publisher of the newspaper continues to be the same.

(4)  As  often  as  the  printer  or  the  publisher  who  shall  have  made  such  declaration  as  is 
aforesaid  shall  leave  India  for  a  period  exceeding  ninety  days  or  where  such  printer  or 
publisher  is  by  infirmity  or  otherwise  rendered  incapable  of  carrying  out  his  duties  for  a 
period exceeding ninety days in circumstances not involving the vacation of his appointment, 
a new declaration shall be necessary.

(5) Every declaration made in respect of a newspaper shall be void, where the newspaper does not 
commence publication— 

	(a) within six weeks of the authentication of the declaration under section 6, in the case of a 
newspaper to be published once a week or oftener; and 

	(b) within three months of the authentication of the declaration under section 6, in the case of 
any other newspaper,

and  in  every  such  case,  a  new  declaration  shall  be  necessary  before  the  newspaper  can  be 
published.

(6) Where,  in  any  period  of  three  months,  any  daily,  tri -weekly,  biweekly,  weekly  or 
fortnightly newspaper publishes issues the number of which is less than half of what should 
have  been  published  in  accordance  with  the  declaration  made  in  respect  thereof,  the 
declaration  shall  cease  to  have  effect  and  a  new  declaration  shall  be  necessary  before  the 
publication of the newspaper can be continued. 

(7) Where  any  other  newspaper  has  ceased  publication  for  a  period,  exceeding  twelve, 
months,  every  declaration  made  in  respect  thereof  shall  cease  to  have  effect,  and  a  new 
declaration shall be necessary before the newspaper can be republished.  

(8) Every  existing  declaration  in  respect  of  a  newspaper  shall  be  cancelled  by  the 
Magistrate before whom a new declaration is made and  subscribed in respect of the same]: 

Provided that no person who does not ordinarily reside in India, or who has not 
attained majority in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Majority Act, 1875  (19  of 
1875),  or  of  the  law  to  which  he  is  subject  in  respect  of  the  attainment  of  majority,  shall  be 
permitted to make the declaration prescribed by this section, nor shall any such person edit a 
newspaper.

5A. **Keepers  of  printing-presses  and  printers  and  publishers  of  newspapers  in 
Jammu  and  Kashmir  to  make  and  subscribe  fresh  declarations  within  specified 
period.**—(1)  No  person  who  has  made  and  subscribed  a  declaration  in  respect  of  any  press 
under section 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir State Press and Publications Act, S. 1989 (Jammu 
and  Kashmir  Act  No.  I  of  S.  1989)  shall  keep  the  press  in  his  possession  for  the  printing  of 
books or papers after the 31st day of December, 1968 unless before the expiry of that date, 
he makes and subscribes a fresh declaration in respect of that press under section 4 of this 
Act.

(2) Every  person  who  has  subscribed  toany  declaration  in  respect  of  a  newspaper  under 
section  5  of  the  Jammu  and  Kashmir  State  Press  and  Publications  Act,  S.  1989,  Jammu  and 
Kashmir  Act,  No.  I  S.  1  shall  cease  to  be  the  editor,  printer  or  publishe r  of  the  newspaper 
mentioned in such declaration after  the  31st  day  of  December,  1968,  unless  before  the 
expiry of that date he makes and subscribes a fresh declaration in respect of that newspaper 
under rule (2) of the rules laid down in section 5 of  this Act.

###STATE AMENDMENT 

**Ladakh (UT).**— 

Section 5A.—Omit. 

[*Vide* Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification 
No. S.O. 3774(E), dated (23-10-2020).] 

6. **Authentication of declaration.**—Eachof the two originals of every declaration so made 
and  subscribed  as  is  aforesaid,  shall  be  authenticated  by  the  signature  and  official  seal  of  the 
Magistrate before whom the said declaration shall have been made: 

Provided that where any declaration is made and subscribed  under section 5 in respect of 
anewspaper,  the  declaration  shall  not,  save  in  the  case  of  newspapers  owned  by  the  same 
person,  be  so  authenticated  unless  the  Magistrate is,  on  inquiry  from  the  Press  Registrar, 
satisfied that  thenewspaper  proposed  to  be  published  does  not  bear  a  title  which  is  the  same  as,  or 
similar to that of any other newspaper published either in the same language or in the same State.

**Deposit.**—One of the said originals shall be deposited among the records of the office of 
the  Magistrate,  and  the  other  shall  be  deposited  among  the  records  of  th e  High  Court  of 
Judicature,  or other principal Civil Court of original jurisdiction for the place where the 
said declaration shall have been made.

**Inspection and supply of copies.**—The Officer-in-charge of each original shall allow any 
person  to  inspect  that  original  on  payment  of  a  fee  of  one  rupee,  and  shall  give  to  any  person 
applying a copy of the said declaration, attested by the seal of the Court which has the custody 
of the original, on payment of a fee of two rupees.

A copy of the declaration attested by the official seal of the Magistrate, or a copy of 
the order refusing to authenticate the declaration, shall be forwarded as soon as possible to 
the person making and subscribing the  declaration and also to the Press Registrar.

7. **Office copy of declaration to be prima facie evidence.**—In  any  legal  proceeding  whatever,  as 
well civil as criminal, the production of a copy of such declaration as is aforesaid, attested by the seal of 
some Court empowered by this Act to have the custody of such declarations, or, in the case of the editor, 
a copy of the newspaper containing his name printed on it as that of the editor shall be held (unless the 
contrary  be  proved)  to  be  sufficient  evidence,  as  against  theperson whose  name shall be subscribed to 
such declaration, or printed  on such newspaper, as the case may be that  the  said  person  was  printer  or 
publisher,  or  printer  and  publisher  (according  as  the  words  of  the  said  declaration  may  be)  of  every 
portion  of  every newspaper whereof  the  title  shall  correspond  with  the  title  of  the newspaper
mentioned  in  the  declaration, or  the  editor  of  every  portion  of  that  issue  of  the  newspaper  of which a 
copy is produced.

8. **New  declaration  by  persons  who  have  signed  a  declaration  and  subsequently  ceased  to  be 
printers  or  publishers.**—If  any  person  has  subscribed  to  any  declaration  in  respect  of  a  newspaper 
under  section  5  and  the  declaration  has  been  authenticated  by  a  Magistrate  under  section  6  and 
subsequently  that  person  ceases  to  be  the  printer  or  publisher  of  the  newspaper  mentioned  in  such 
declaration, he shall appear before any District, Presidency or Sub-divisional Magistrate, and make and 
subscribe in duplicate the following declaration:—  

“I, A. B., declare that I have ceased to be the printer or publisher or printer and publisher of the 
newspaper entitled —”.

**Authentication and fling.**—Each  original  of  the  latter  declaration  shall  be  authenticated  by  the 
signature and seal of the Magistrate  before whom the said latter declaration shall have been made, and 
one original of the said latter declaration shall be filed alongwith each original of the former declaration.

**Inspection and supply of copies.**—The  Officer-in-charge  of  each  original  of the  latter  declaration 
shall allow any person applying to inspect that original on payment of a fee of one rupee, and shall give to 
any person applying a copy of the said latter declaration, attested by the seal of the Court having custody 
of the original, on payment of a fee of two rupees.

**Putting copy in evidence.**—In  all  trials  in  which  a  copy,  attested  as  is  aforesaid,  of  the  former 
declaration  shall  have  been  put  in  evidence,  it  shall  be  lawful  to  put  in  evidence  a  copy,  attested  as  is 
aforesaid, of the latter declaration, and the former declaration shall not be taken to be evidence that the 
declaration was, at any period subsequent to the date of the latter declaration, printer or publisher of the 
newspaper therein mentioned.

A copy of the latter declaration attested by the official seal of the Magistrate shall be forwarded to 
the Press Registrar.

**8A.  Person  whose  name  has  been  incorrectly  published  as  editor  may  make  a  declaration 
before a Magistrate.**—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 incorrectlypublished in that issue as 
that of the editor thereof, and if the Magistrate after making such inquiry or causing such inquiry to be 
made as he may consider necessary is satisfied that such declaration is true, he shall certify accordingly, 
and on that certificate being given the provisions of section 7 shall not apply to that person in respect of 
that issue of the newspaper. 

The Magistrate may extend the period allowed by this section in any case where he is satisfied that 
such  person  was  prevented  by  sufficient  cause  from  appearing  and  making  the  declaration  within  that 
period.

8B. **Cancellation of declaration.**—If,  on  an  application  made  to  him  by  the  Press 
Registrar  or  any  other  person  or  otherwise,  the  Magistrate  empowered  to  authenticate  a 
declaration  under  this  Act,  is  of  opinion  that  any  declaration  made  in  respect  of  a  newspaper 
should  be  cancelled,  he  may,  after  giving  the  person  concerned  an  opportunity  of  showing 
cause  against  the  action  proposed  to  be  taken,  hold  an  inquiry  into  the  matter  and  if,  after 
considering  the  cause,  if  any,  shown  by  such  person  and  after  giving  him  an  opportunity  of 
being heard, he is satisfied that—

(i) the newspaper, in respect  of  which  the  declaration  has  been  made  is  being  published  in 
contravention of the provisions of this Act or rules made thereunder; or 

(ii) the  newspaper  mentioned  in the  declaration  bears  a  title  which  is  the same  as,  or 
similar  to,  that  of  any  other  newspaper  published  either  in  the  same  lan guage  or  in  the 
same State; or 

(iii) the printer or publisher has ceased to be the printer or publisher of the newspaper mentioned 
in such declaration; or 

(iv) the declaration was made  on  false  representation  or  on  the  concealment  of  any 
material fact or in respect of a periodical work which is not a newspaper;

the Magistrate may, by order, cancel the decl aration and shall forward as soon as possible a 
copy  of the  order to  the  person  making  or  sub scribing  the declaration and also  to the  Press 
Registrar.

8C. **Appeal.**—(1)  Any  person  aggrieved  by  an  order  of  a  Magistrate  refusing  to 
authenticate a declaration under section 6 or cancelling a declaration under section 8B may, 
within  sixty  days  from  the  date  on  which  such  order  is  communicated  to  him,  prefer  an 
appeal  to  the  Appellate  Board  to  be  called  the  Press  and  Registration  Appellate  Board 
consisting  of  a  Chairman  and  another  member  to  be  nominated  by  the  Press  Council  of 
India, established under section  4 of the  Press  Council Act, 1978 (37 of 1978), from among 
its members:

Provided  that  the  Appellate  Board  may  entertain  an   appeal  after  the  expiry  of  the 
saidperiod,  if  it  is  satisfied  that  the  appellant  was  prevented  by  sufficient  cause  from 
preferring the appeal in time.

(2) On receipt of an appeal under this section, the Appellate Board may, after calling for 
the  records  from  the  Magistrate  and  after  making  such  further  inquiries  as  it  thinks  fit, 
confirm, modify or set aside the order appealed against.  

(3) Subject to the provisions contained in sub-section (2),the Appellate Board may, by order, regulate 
its practice and procedure. 

(4) The decision of the Appellate Board shall be final.

###PART III 

###DELIVERY OF BOOKS 

9. Copies  of  books  printed  after  commencement  of  Act  to  be  delivered  gratis  to 
Government.—Printed copies  of  the  whole  of  every  book  which  shall  be  printed in 
India after this Act shall come into force, together with all maps, prints or other engravings 
belonging  thereto,  finished  and  coloured  in  the  same  manner  as  the  best  copies  of  the  same, 
shall,  notwithstanding  any  agreement  (if  the  book  be  published)  between  the  printer  and 
publisher  thereof,  be  delivered  by  the  printer  at  such  place  and  to  such  officer  as  the  State 
Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, from time to t ime direct, and free of 
expense to the Government, as follows, that is to say :— 

(a) in any case, within one calendar month after the day on which any such  book  shall  first  be 
delivered out of the press, one such copy, and 

(b) if within one calendar year from such day the State Government shall require  the  printer  to 
deliver other such copies not exceeding two in number, then within one calendar month after the day 
on  which  any  such  requisition  shall  be  made  by  the State  Government  on  the  printer,  another such 
copy, or two other such copies, as the State Government may direct, 

the copies so  delivered  being  bound,  sewed  or  stitched  together and  upon the  best paper  on  which  any 
copies of the book shall be printed. 

The  publisher  or  other  person  employing  the  printer  shall,  at  a  reasonable  time  before  the 
expiration of the said month, supply him with all maps, prints and engravings finished and coloured 
as aforesaid, which may be necessary to enable him to comply with the requirements aforesaid.  

Nothing in the former part of this section shall apply to— 

(i)  any  second  or  subsequent  edition  of  a  book  in  which  edition  no  additions  or 
alterations  either  in  the  letter-press  or  in  the  maps,  prints  or  other  engravings  belonging  to 
the  book  have  been  made,  and a  copy  of the  first  or  some  preceding  edition  of  which  book 
has been delivered under this Act, or 

(ii) any newspaper published in conformity with the rules laid down in section 5 of this Act.

10. **Receipt for copies delivered under section 9.**—The  officer  to  whoma  copy  of  a  book  is 
delivered under the last foregoing section shall give to the printer a receipt in writing therefor.

11. **Disposal of copies delivered under section 9.**—Thecopy delivered pursuant to clause (a)of the 
first paragraph of section 9 of this Act shall be disposed of as the State Government shall from time to 
time determine. 

Any copy or copies delivered pursuant to clause (b) of the said paragraph shall 
be transmitted to the Central Government.

11A. **Copies of newspapers printed in India to be delivered gratis to Government.**—The printer 
of  every  newspaper in India shall deliver at such place and to such officer  as  the  State  Government 
may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct, and free of expense to the Government, two copies of 
each issue of such newspaper as soon as it is published.

11B. **Copies of newspapers to be delivered to Press Registrar.**—Subject to -any rules that may be 
made under this Act, the publisher of every newspaper in India shall deliver free of expense to the Press 
Registrar one copy of each issue of such newspaper as soon as it is published.

###PART IV 

###PENALTIES 

12. **Penalty for printing contrary to rule in section 3.**—Whoevershall print or publish any book or 
paper otherwise than in conformity with the rule contained in section 3 of this Act, shall, on conviction 
before a Magistrate,be punished by fine not exceeding two thousand rupees, or by simple imprisonment 
for a term not exceeding six months, or by both.

13. **Penalty for keeping press without making declaration required by section 4.**—
Whoever shall  keep  in  his  possession  any  such  press  as  aforesaid, in contravention of any of  the 
provisions contained in section 4 of this Act, shall, on conviction before a  Magistrate, be punished 
by fine not exceeding two thousand rupees, of by simple imprisonment for a term not exceeding 
six months, or by both.

14. **Punishment for making false statement.**—Any person who shall, in making any declaration or 
other statement under the authority of this Act, make  a  statement  which  is  false,  and  which  he  either 
knows or believes to be false, or does not believe to be true, shall, on convictionbefore a Magistrate, be 
punished by fine not exceeding two thousand rupees, and imprisonment for a term not exceeding six 
months.

15. **Penalty  for  printing  or  publishing  newspaper  without  conforming  to  rules.**—
(1) Whoever  shall edit, print or publish any newspaper without conforming to the rules 
hereinbefore laid down, or whoever shall edit, print or publish, or shall cause to be edited, 
printed  or  published, any newspaper, knowing  that  the  said  rules  have  not   been  observed 
with respect to that newspaper, shall,  on  conviction  before  a  Magistrate,  be  punished  with 
fine  not  exceeding two thousand rupees,  or  imprisonment  for  a  term  not  exceeding six 
months or both. 

(2) Where an offence is committed in relation to a newspaper under sub -section (1),the 
Magistrate  may,  in  addition  to  the  punishment  imposed  under  the  said  sub -section,  also 
cancel the declaration in respect of the newspaper.

15A. **Penalty for failure to make adeclaration under section 8.**—If any person who has 
ceased  to  be  a  printer  or  publisher  of.  any  newspaper  fails  or  neglects  to  make  a  declaration  in 
compliance with section 8, he shall, on conviction before a Magistrate, be punishable by fine not 
exceeding two hundred rupees.

16. **Penalty for not delivering books or not supplying printer with maps.**—Ifany 
printer of any such book as is referred to in section 9 of this Act shall neglect to deliver copies 
of  the same  pursuant  to that  section,  he  shall for  every  such  default forfeit  to  the  Government 
such sum not exceeding fifty rupees as a Magistrate having jurisdiction in the place where the 
book  was  printed  may,  on  the  application  of  the  officer  to  whom  the  copies  should  have  been 
delivered  or  of  any  person  authorised  by  that  officer  in  this  behalf,  determine  to  be  in  the 
circumstances  a  reasonable  penalty  for  the  default,  and,  in  addition  to  such  sum,  such  further 
sum  as  the  Magistrate  may  determine  to  be  the  value  of  the  copies  which  the  printer  ought  to 
have delivered.

If any publisher or other person employing any such  printer shall neglect to supply him, in 
the manner prescribed in the second paragraph of section 9 of this Act, with the maps, prints or 
engravings  which  may  be  necessary  to  enable  him  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  that 
section,  such  publisher  or  other  person  shall  for  every  such  default  forfeit  to  the  Government 
such  sum  not  exceeding  fifty  rupees  as  such  a  Magistrate  as  aforesaid  may,  on  such  an 
application  as  aforesaid,  determine  to  be  in  the  circumstances  a  reasonable  penalty  for  the 
default,  and,  in  addition  to  such  sum,  such  further  sum  as  the  Magistrate  may  determine  to  be 
the value of the maps, prints or engravings which such publisher or other person ought to have 
supplied. 

16A. **Penalty for failure to supply copies of newspapers  gratis to Government.**—If any 
printer of  any  newspaper  published  in India neglects  to  deliver  copies  of  the  same  in 
compliance with section 11A, he shall, on the complaint of the officer to whom copies should 
have been delivered or of any person authorised by that of ficer in this behalf, be punishable, on 
conviction  by  a  Magistrate  having  jurisdiction  in  the  place  where  the  newspaper  was  printed, 
with fine which may extend to fifty rupees for every default.

16B. **Penalty for failure to  supply  copies  of  newspapers  to   Press  Registrar.**—If  any 
publisher  of  any  newspaper  published  in  India  neglects  to  deliver  copies  of  the  same   in 
compliance with section 11 B, he shall, on the complaint of the Press Registrar, be punishable, 
on  conviction  by  a  Magistrate  having  jurisdicti on  in  the  place  where  the  newspaper  was 
printed, by fine which may extend to fifty rupees for every default.

17. **Recovery of forfeitures and disposal thereof and of fines.**—Anysum  forfeited  to  the 
Government under section 16 may be recovered, under the warrant of the Magistrate determining the 
sum, or of his successor in office, in the manner authorised by the Code of Criminal Procedure (10 of 
1882) for the time being in force, and within the period prescribed by the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), 
for the levy of a fine.

###PART V 

###REGISTRATION OF BOOKS 

18. **Registration of memoranda of books.**—There shall be kept at such office, and by such officer as 
the  State  Government  shall  appoint in this  behalf,  a book  to  be  called a  Catalogue  of  Books  printed  in 
India, wherein  shall  be  registered  a  memorandum  of  every  book  which  shall  have  been  delivered 
pursuant to clause (a)of the first paragraph of section 9 of this Act. Such memorandum shall (so far as 
may be practicable) contain the following particulars (that is to say) :— 

(1) the title of the book and the contents of the title-page, with a translation into English of such 
title and contents, when the same are not in the English language; 

(2) the language in which the book is written; 

(3) the name of the author, translator or editor of the book or any part thereof; 

(4) the subject; 

(5) the place of printing and the place of publication; 

(6) the name or firm of the printer and the name or firm of the publisher; 

(7) the date of issue from the press or of the publication; 

(8) the number of sheets, leaves or pages; 

(9) the size; 

(10) the first, second or other number of the edition; 

(11) the number of copies of which the edition consists;

(12) whether the book is printed cyclostyled or lithographed;

(13) the price at which the book is sold to the public; and 

(14) the name and residence of the proprietor of the copyright or of any portion of such copyright. 

Such memorandum shall be made and registered in the case of each book as soon as practicable 
after the delivery of the copy thereof pursuant to clause (a)of the first paragraph of section 9.

19. **Publication  of  memoranda  registered.**—Thememoranda  registered  during  each  quarter 
in the said Catalogue shall be published in the Official Gazette, as soon as may be after the end of 
such  quarter,  and  a  copy  of  the  memoranda  so  published  shall  be  sent to  the  Central 
Government.

##PART VA 

###REGISTRATION OF NEWSPAPERS 

19A. **Appointment of Press Registrar and other officers.**—TheCentral Government may appoint a 
Registrar of newspapers for India and such other officers under the general superintendence and control 
of the Press Registrar as may be necessary for the purpose of performing the functions assigned to them 
by or under this Act, and may, by general or special order, provide for the distribution or allocation of 
functions to be performed by them under this Act.

19B. **Register of newspapers.**—(1)  The  Press  Registrar  shall  maintain  in  the  prescribed manner  a 
Register of newspapers.

(2) The  Register  shall,  as  far  as  may  be  practicable,  contain  the  following  particulars 
aboutevery newspaper published in India, namely:—

(a) the title of the newspaper; 

(b) the language in which the newspaper is published; 

(c) periodicity of the publication of the newspaper;  

(d) the name of the editor, printer and publisher of the newspaper;

(e) the place of printing and publication; 

(f) the average number of pages per week; 

(g) the number of days of publication in the year; 

(h) the  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,  the  average  being 
calculated with reference to such period as may be prescribed;  

(i) retail selling price per copy; 

(j) the names and addresses of the owners of the newspaper andsuch other particulars relating to 
ownership as may be prescribed; 

(k) any other particulars which may be prescribed.

(3) On  receiving  information  from  time  to  time  about  the  aforesaid  particulars,  the  Press 
Registrar shall cause relevant entries to be made in the Register and may make such necessary 
alterations or corrections therein as may be required for keeping the Register up -to-date.

19C. **Certificates of registration.**—On receiving  from  the  Magistrate  under  section 6 a 
copy of the 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 thereof.  
                                                      
19D. **Annual statement, etc., to be furnished by newspapers.**—It shall be the duty of the publisher 
of every newspaper—

(a) to furnish to the Press Registrar an annual statement in respect of the newspaper at such time 
and containing such ofparticulars referred to in sub-section (2) of section19B as may be prescribed;

(b) to publish in the newspaper at such times and such of the particulars relating to the newspaper 
referred to in sub-section (2) of section 19B as may be specified in this behalf by the Press Registrar. 

19E. **Returns and reports to be furnished by newspapers.**—Thepublisher of every newspaper shall 
furnish  to  the  Press  Registrar  such  returns,  statistics  and  other  information  with  respect  to  any  of  the 
particulars  referred  to  in  sub-section  (2)  of  section  1913  as  the  Press  Registrar  may  from  time  to  time 
require.

19F. **Right  of  access  to  records  and  documents.**—The  Press  Registrar  or  any  gazetted  officer 
authorised  by  him  in  writing,  in  this  behalf  shall,  for  the  purpose  of  the  collection  of  any  information 
relating  to  a  newspaper  under  this  Act,  have  access  to  any  relevant  record  or  document  relating  to  the 
newspaper in the possession of the publisher thereof, and may enter at any reasonable time any premises 
where he believes such record or document to be and may inspect or take copies of the relevant records or 
documents  or  ask  any  question  necessary  for  obtaining  any  information  required  to  be  furnished  under 
this Act.

19G. **Annual report.**—The Press Registrar shall prepare, in such form and at such time each year as 
may be prescribed, an annual report containing a summary of the information obtained by him during the 
previous  year  in  respect  of  the  newspapers  in  India  and  giving  an  account  of  the  working  of  such 
newspapers, and copies thereof shall be forwarded to the Central Government. 

19H. **Furnishing of copies of extracts from Register.**—On  the  application  of  any  person  for  the 
supply of the copy of any extract from the Register and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed, the 
Press Registrar shall furnish such copy to the applicant in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

19-I. **Delegation of powers.**—Subject to the provisions of this Act and regulations made thereunder, 
the Press Registrar may delegate all or any of his powers under this Act to any officer subordinate to him.

19J. **Press Registrar and other officers to be public servants.**—The Press Registrar and all officers 
appointed under this Act shall be deemed to be public servants within  the meaning of section 21 of the 
Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860). 

19K. **Penalty  for  contravention  of  section  19D  or  section  19E,  etc.**—If  the  publisher  of  any 
newspaper—

(a) refuses or neglects to comply with the provisions of section 19D or section 19E; or

(c) publishes in the newspaper in pursuance of clause (b)of section 19D any particulars relating to 
the newspaper which he has reason to believe to be false, 

he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.

19L. **Penalty for improper disclosure of information.**—If any person engaged in connection with 
the  collection  of  information  under  this  Act  wilfully  discloses  any  information  or  the  contents  of  any 
return given or furnished under this Act otherwise than in the execution of his duties under t his Act or for 
the purposes of the prosecution of an offence under this Act or under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), 
he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which 
may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

##PART VI 

###MISCELLANEOUS
 
20. **Power of State Government to make rules.**—(1) The State Government may, by notification 
in the Official Gazette, make such rules (not inconsistent with the rules made by the Central Government 
under section 20A) as may be necessary or desirable for carrying out the objects of this Act. 

(2) Every rule made by the State Government under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after 
it is made, before the State Legislature.

20A. **Power of Central Government to make rules.**—(1)  The  Central  Government  may,  by 
notification in the Official Gazette, make rules—

(a) prescribing  the  particulars  which  a  declaration  made  and  subscribed  under  section  5  may 
contain and the form and manner in which the names of the printer, publisher, owner and editor of a 
newspaper  and  the  place  of  its  printing  and  publication  may  be  printed  on  every  copy  of  such 
newspaper; 

(b) prescribing the manner in which copies of any declaration attested by the official seal of a 
Magistrate or copies of any order refusing to authenticate any declaration may  be forwarded to the 
person making and subscribing the decimation and to the Press Registrar;

(c) prescribing the manner in which copies of any newspaper may be sent to the Press Registrar 
under section 11B; 

(d) prescribing  the  manner  in  which  a  Register  may  be  maintained  under  section  19B  and  the 
particulars which it may contain; 

(e) prescribed the particulars in which an annual statement to be furnished by the publisher of a 
newspaper to the Press Registrar may contain; 

(f) prescribing  the  form  and  manner  in  which  an  annual  statement  under  clause  (a)  of  section 
19D, or any returns, statistics or other information under section 19E, may be furnished to the Press 
Registrar; 

(g) prescribing the fees for furnishing copies of extracts from the Register and  the  manner  in 
which such copies may be furnished; 

(h) prescribing the manner in which a certificate of registration may be issued in respect of a 
newspaper;

(i) prescribing the form in which, and the time within which, annual reports may be prepared by 
the Press Registrar and forwarded to the Central Government.

(2) Every rule made under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made before each 
House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one 
session or in  two  or  more  successive  sessions,  and  if,  before  the  expiry  of  the  session  immediately 
following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid] both Houses agree in making any modification 
in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only 
in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so however that any such modification or 
annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.
                                                      
20B. **Rules  made  under  this  Act  may  provide  that  contravention  thereof  shall  be 
punishable.**—Any rule made under any provision of this Act may provide that any contravention thereof 
shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.

21. **Power to exclude any class of books from operation of Act.**—The State Government may, by 
notification in the Official Gazette, exclude any class of books or papers from  the  operation of the 
whole or any part or parts of this Act: 

Provided  that  no  such  notification  in  respect  of  any  class  of  newspapers  shall  be  issued  without 
consulting the Central Government.] 

22. **Extent.**—This Act extends to the whole of India.

23. [Commencement of Act.] Rep. by the Repealing Act, 1870 (14 of 1870), s. 1 and Schedule, Pt. II.
_________