THE WORKING JOURNALISTS AND OTHER NEWSPAPER 
EMPLOYEES (CONDITIONS OFSERVICE) AND 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ACT, 1955 
__________ 

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
__________ 

CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

SECTIONS 

1.  Short title and extent. 
2.  Definitions. 

CHAPTER II 

WORKING JOURNALISTS 

3.  Act 14 of 1947 to apply to working journalists. 
4.  Special provisions in respect of certain cases of retrenchment. 
5.  Payment of gratuity. 
5A. Nomination by working journalist. 
6.  Hours of work. 
7.  Leave. 
8.  Fixation or revision of rates of wages. 
9.  Procedure for fixing and revising rates of wages. 
10.  Recommendation by Board. 
11.  Powers and procedure of the Board. 
12.  Powers of Central Government to enforce recommendations of the Wage Board. 
13.  Working journalists entitled to wages at rates not less than those specified in the order. 
13A.Power of Government to fix interim rates of wages. 
13AA. Constitution of Tribunal for fixing or revising rates of wages in respect of working journalists. 

CHAPTER IIA 

NON-JOURNALIST NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEES 

 13B. Fixation or revision of rates of wages of non-journalist newspaper employees. 
13C. Wage Board for fixing or revising rates of wages in respect of non-journalist newspaper 

employees. 

13D. Application of certain provisions. 
13DD. Constitution of Tribunal for fixing or revising rates of wages in respect of non-journalist 

newspaper employees. 

CHAPTER III 

APPLICATION OF CERTAIN ACTS TO NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEES 

14.  Act 20 of 1946 to apply to newspaper establishments. 
15.  Act 19 of 1952 to apply to newspaper establishments. 

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16.  Effect of laws and agreements inconsistent with this Act. 

      16A. Employer not to dismiss, discharge, etc., newspaper employees. 

CHAPTER IV 
MISCELLANEOUS 

17.  Recovery of money due from an employer. 
17A. Maintenance of registers, records, and muster-rolls. 
17B. Inspectors. 
18.  Penalty. 
19.  Indemnity. 
19A. Defects in appointments not to invalidate acts. 
19B. Saving. 
20.  Power to make rules. 
21.  [Repealed.] 

THE SCHEDULE. 

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THE WORKING JOURNALISTS AND OTHER NEWSPAPER 
EMPLOYEES (CONDITIONS OFSERVICE) AND 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ACT, 1955 
ACT NO. 45 OF 19551 

An  Act  to  regulate  certain  conditions  of  service  of  working  journalists  and  other  persons 

employed in newspaper establishments. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 

[20th December, 1955.]  

CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

1.  Short  title  and  extent.—(1)  This  Act  may  be  called  the  2[Working  Journalists  and  other 

Newspaper Employees] (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955. 

(2) It extends to the whole of India 3***. 

2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— 

4[(a) “Board” means— 

(i) in relation to working journalists, the Wage Board constituted under section 9; and 

(ii)  in  relation  to  non-journalist  newspaper  employees,  the  Wage  Board  constituted  under 

section 13C;] 

(b)  “newspaper”  means  any  printed  periodical  work  containing  public  news  or  comments  on 
public news and includes such other class of printed periodical work as may, from time to time, be 
notified in this behalf by the Central Government in the Official Gazette; 

(c)  “newspaper  employee”  means  any  working  journalist,  and  includes  any  other  person 

employed to do any work in, or in relation to, any newspaper establishment; 

(d) “newspaper establishment” means an establishment under the control of any person or body or 
persons, whether incorporated or not, for the production or publication of one or more newspapers or 
for conducting any news agency or syndicate; 

5[and includes newspaper establishments specified as one establishment under the Schedule. 

Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause,— 

(a) different departments, branches and centres of newspaper establishments shall be treated 

as parts thereof; 

(b) a printing press shall be deemed to be a newspaper establishment if the principal business 

thereof is to print newspaper;] 

6[dd)  “non-journalist  newspaper  employee”  means  a  person  employed  to  do  any  work  in,  or  in 

relation to, any newspaper establishment, but does not include any such person who— 

(i) is a working journalist, or 

(ii) is employed mainly in a managerial or administrative capacity, or 

1. Extended to Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 11 of 1963, s. 3 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 1-2-1965) and to Pondicherry by Act 26 of 

1968, s. 3 and the Schedule. 

2. Subs. by Act 60 of 1974, s. 2, for “Working Journalists” 
3. The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 51 of 1970, s. 2 and the Schedule. 
4. Subs. by Act 60 of 1974, s. 3, for clause (a). 
5. Ins. by Act 31 of 1989, s. 2 (retrospectively). 
6. Ins. by Act 60 of 1974, s. 3. 

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(iii)  being  employed  in  a  supervisory  capacity,  performs,  either  by  the  nature  of  the  duties 
attached to his office or by reason of the powers vested in him, functions mainly of a managerial 
nature;] 

(e) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 

1[(ee) “Tribunal” means,— 

(i) in relation to working journalists, the Tribunal constituted under section 13AA; and 

(ii) in relation to non-journalist newspaper employees, the Tribunal constituted under section 

13DD;] 

2[(eee)  “wages”  means  all  remuneration  capable  of  being  expressed  in  terms  of  money,  which 
would, if the terms of employment, expressed or implied, were fulfilled, be payable to a newspaper 
employee in respect of his employment or of work done in such employment, and includes— 

(i) such allowances (including dearness allowance) as the newspaper employee is for the time 

being entitled to; 

(ii) the value of any house accommodation, or of supply of light, water, medical attendance or 

other amenity or of any service or of any concessional supply of food-grains or other articles; 

(iii) any travelling concession, 

but does not include— 

(a) any bonus; 

(b) any contribution paid or payable by the employer to any pension fund or provident fund or for 

the benefit of the newspaper employee under any law for the time being in force; 

(c) any gratuity payable on the termination of his service. 

Explanation.—In  this  clause,  the  term  “wages”  shall  also  include  new  allowances,  if  any,  of  any 

description fixed from time to time.] 

(f)  “working  journalist”  means  a  person  whose  principal  avocation  is  that  of  a  journalist  and 
3[who  is  employed  as  such,  either  whole-time  or  part-time,  in,  or  in  relation  to,  one  or  more 
newspaper  establishments],  and  includes  an  editor,  a leader-writer,  news-editor, sub-editor, feature-
writer, copy-tester, reporter, correspondent, cartoonist, news photographer and proof-reader, but does 
not include any such person who— 

(i) is employed mainly in a managerial or administrative capacity, or 

(ii)  being  employed  in  a  supervisory  capacity,  performs,  either  by  the  nature  of  the  duties 
attached to his office or by reason of the powers vested in him, functions mainly of a managerial 
nature; 

(g)  all  words  and  expressions  used  but  not  defined  in  this  Act  and  defined  in  the  Industrial 

Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947) shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act. 

CHAPTER II 

WORKING JOURNALISTS 

3. Act 14 of 1947 to apply to working journalists.—(1) The provisions of the Industrial Disputes 
Act, 1947, as in force for the time being, shall, subject to the modification specified in sub-section (2), 
apply  to,  or  in  relation  to,  working  journalists  as  they  apply  to,  or  in  relation  to,  workmen  within  the 
meaning of that Act. 

1. Ins. by Act 6 of 1979, s. 2 (w.e.f. 31-1-1979). 
2. Ins. by Act 31 of 1989, s. 2 (retrospectively). 
3.  Subs.  by  Act  36  of  1981,  s.  2,  for  “who  is  employed  as  such  in,  or  in  relation  to,  any  newspaper  establishment” 

 (w.e.f. 13-8-1980). 

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(2) Section 25F of the aforesaid Act, in its application to working journalists, shall be construed as if 
in  clause  (a)  thereof,  for  the  period  of  notice  referred  to  therein  in  relation  to  the  retrenchment  of  a 
workman, the following periods of notice in relation to the retrenchment of a working journalist had been 
substituted, namely:— 

(a) six months, in the case of an editor, and 

(b) three months, in the case of any other working journalist. 

4. Special provisions in respect of certain cases of retrenchment.—Where at any time between the 
14th day of July, 1954, and the 12th day of March, 1955, any working journalist had been retrenched, he 
shall be entitled to receive from the employer— 

(a) wages for one month at the rate to which he was entitled immediately before his retrenchment, 

unless he had been given one month's notice in writing before such retrenchment; and 

(b) compensation which shall be equivalent to fifteen days’ average pay for every completed year 

of service under that employer or any part thereof in excess of six months. 

1[5. Payment of gratuity.—(1) Where— 

(a)  any  working  journalist  has  been  in  continuous  service,  whether  before  or  after  the 

commencement of this Act, for not less than three years in any newspaper establishment, and— 

(i) his services are terminated by the employer in relation to that newspaper establishment for 
any reason whatsoever, otherwise than as a punishment inflicted by way of disciplinary action; or 

(ii) he retires from service on reaching the age of superannuation; or 

(b)  any  working  journalist  has  been  in  continuous  service,  whether  before  or  after  the 
commencement  of  this  Act,  for  not  less  than  ten  years  in  any  newspaper  establishment,  and  he  
voluntarily resigns on or after the 1st day of July, 1961, from service in that newspaper establishment 
on any ground whatsoever other than on the ground of conscience; or 

(c)  any  working  journalist  has  been  in  continuous  service,  whether  before  or  after  the 
commencement  of  this  Act  for  not  less  than  three  years  in  any  newspaper  establishment,  and  he 
voluntarily  resigns  on  or  after  the  1st  day  of  July,  1961,  from  service  in  that  establishment  on  the 
ground of conscience; or 

(d)  any  working  journalist  dies  while  he  is  in  service  in  any  newspaper  establishment;  the 
working journalist or, in the case of his death, his nominee or nominees or, if there is no nomination 
in  force  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  the  working  journalist,  his  family,  as  the  case  may  be,  shall, 
without  prejudice  to  any  benefits  or  rights  accruing  under  the  Industrial  Disputes  Act,  1947  (14  of 
1947), be paid, on such termination, retirement, resignation or death, by the employer in relation to 
that establishment gratuity which shall be equivalent to fifteen days’ average pay for every completed 
year of service or any part thereof in excess of six months: 

Provided that in the case of a working journalist referred to in clause (b), the total amount of gratuity 

that shall be payable to him shall not exceed twelve and half month’s average pay: 

Provided further that where a working journalist is employed in any newspaper establishment wherein 
not  more  than  six  working  journalists  were  employed  on  any  day  of  the  twelve  months  immediately 
preceding the commencement of this Act, the gratuity payable to a working journalist employed in any 
such  newspaper  establishment  for  any  period  of  service  before  such  commencement  shall  not  be 
equivalent to fifteen days’ average pay for every completed year of service or any part thereof in excess 
of six months but shall be equivalent to— 

(a) three days’ average pay for every completed year of service or any part thereof in excess of 

six months, if the period of such past service does not exceed five years; 

1. Subs. by Act 65 of 1952, s. 3, for section 5 (w.e.f. 15-1-1963). 

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(b) five days’ average pay for every completed year of service or any part thereof in excess of six 

months, if the period of such past service exceeds five years but does not exceed ten years; and 

(c) seven days’ average pay for every completed year of service or any part thereof in excess of 

six months, if the period of such past service exceeds ten years. 

Explanation.—For  the  purposes  of  this  sub-section  and  sub-section  (1)  of  section  17,  “family” 

means— 

(i) in the case of a male working journalist, his widow, children, whether married or unmarried, 

and his dependent parents and the widow and children of his deceased son: 

Provided that a widow shall not be deemed to be a member of the family of the working journalist 

if at the time of his death she was not legally entitled to be maintained by him; 

(ii)  in  the  case  of  a  female  working  journalist,  her  husband,  children,  whether  married  or 
unmarried, and the dependent parents of the working journalist or of her husband, and the widow and 
children of her deceased son: 

Provided that if the working journalist has expressed her desire to exclude her husband from the 
family,  the  husband  and  his  dependent  parents  shall  not  be  deemed  to  be  a  part  of  the  working 
journalist’s family, 

and in either of the above two cases, if the child of a working journalist or of a deceased son of a working 
journalist has been adopted by another person and if under the personal law of the adopter, adoption is 
legally  recognised,  such  a  child  shall  not  be  considered  as  a  member  of  the  family  of  the  working 
journalist. 

(2) Any dispute whether a working journalist has voluntarily resigned from service in any newspaper 
establishment on the ground of conscience shall be deemed to be an industrial dispute within the meaning 
of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947) or any corresponding law relating to investigation and 
settlement of industrial disputes in force in any State. 

(3) Where a nominee is a minor and the gratuity under sub-section (1) has become payable during his 

minority, it shall be paid to a person appointed under sub-section (3) of section 5A: 

Provided that where there is no such person, payment shall be made to any guardian of the property of 
the minor appointed by a competent court or where no such guardian has been appointed, to either parent 
of the minor, or where neither parent is alive, to any other guardian of the minor: 

Provided  further  that  where  the  gratuity  is  payable  to  two  or  more  nominees,  and  either  or  any  of 

them dies, the gratuity shall be paid to the surviving nominee or nominees. 

5A. Nomination by working journalist.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the 
time being in force, or in any disposition, testamentary or otherwise in respect of any gratuity payable to a 
working journalist, where a nomination made in the prescribed manner purports to confer on any person 
the right to receive payment of the gratuity for the time being due to the working journalist, the nominee 
shall, on the death of the working journalist, become entitled to the gratuity and to be paid the sum due in 
respect thereof to the exclusion of all other persons, unless the nomination is varied or cancelled in the 
prescribed manner. 

(2) Any nomination referred to in sub-section (1) shall become void if the nominee predeceases, or 
where there are two  or more nominees, all the nominees predecease, the working journalist making the 
nomination. 

(3) Where the nominee is a minor, it shall be lawful for the working journalist making the nomination 
to appoint any person in the prescribed manner to receive the gratuity in the event of his death during the 
minority of the nominee. 

6. Hours of work.—(1) Subject to any rules that may be made under this Act, no working journalist 
shall  be  required  or  allowed  to  work  in  any  newspaper  establishment  for  more  than  one  hundred  and 
forty-four hours during any period of four consecutive weeks, exclusive of the time for meals. 

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(2) Every working journalist shall be allowed during any period of seven consecutive days rest for a 
period  of  not  less  than  twenty-four  consecutive  hours,  the  period  between  10  P.M.  and  6  A.M.  being 
included therein. 

Explanation.—For the  purposes of this  section,  “week”  means  a  period  of seven  days  beginning  at 

mid-night on Saturday. 

7.  Leave.—Without  prejudice  to  such  holidays,  casual  leave  or  other  kinds  of  leave  as  may  be 

prescribed, every working journalist shall be entitled to— 

(a) earned leave on full wages for not less than one-eleventh of the period spent on duty; 

(b) leave on medical certificate on one-half of the wages for not less than one-eighteenth of the 

period of service. 

1[8.Fixation  or  revision  of  rates  of  wages.—(1)  The  Central  Government  may,  in  the  manner 

hereinafter provided,— 

(a) fix rates of wages in respect of working journalists; 

(b) revise, from time to time, at such intervals as it may think fit, the rates of wages fixed under 
this  section  or  specified  in  the  order  made  under  section  6  of  the  Working  Journalists  (Fixation  of 
Rates of Wages) Act, 1958 (29 of 1958). 

(2)  The  rates  of  wages  may  be  fixed  or  revised  by  the  Central  Government  in  respect  of  working 

journalists for time work and for piece work. 

9. Procedure for fixing and revising rates of wages.—For the purpose of fixing or revising rates of 
wages  in  respect  of  working  journalists  under  this  Act,  the  Central  Government  shall,  as  and  when 
necessary, constitute a Wage Board which shall consist of— 

(a) 2[three persons] representing employers in relation to newspaper establishments; 

(b) 2[three persons] representing working journalists; 

(c) 3[four independent persons], one of whom shall be a person who is, or has been, a Judge of a 
High Court or the Supreme Court and who shall be appointed by that Government as the Chairman 
thereof. 

10.  Recommendation  by  Board.—(1)  The  Board  shall,  by  notice  published  in  such  manner  as  it 
thinks fit, call upon newspaper establishments and working journalists and other persons interested in the 
fixation  or  revision  of  rates  of  wages  of  working  journalists  to  make  such  representations  as  they  may 
think fit as respects the rates of wages which may be fixed or revised under this Act in respect of working 
journalists. 

(2) Every such representation shall be in writing and shall be made within such period as the Board 
may specify in the notice and shall state the rates of wages which, in the opinion of the person making the 
representation, would be reasonable, having regard to the capacity of the employer to pay the same or to 
any other circumstance, whichever may seem relevant to the person making the representation in relation 
to his representation. 

(3) The  Board  shall  take into account  the representations  aforesaid, if  any,  and after  examining the 
materials placed before it make such recommendations as it thinks fit to the Central Government for the 
fixation  or  revision  of  rates  of  wages  in  respect  of  working  journalists;  and  any  such  recommendation 
may specify, whether prospectively or retrospectively, the date from which the rates of wages should take 
effect. 

(4) In  making any recommendations to the Central Government, the Board shall have regard to the 
cost of living, the prevalent rates of wages for comparable employment, the circumstances relating to the 

1. Subs. by Act 65 of 1962, s. 4, for sections 8 to 13 (w.e.f. 15-1-1963). 
2. Subs. by Act 34 of 1996, s. 2, for “two persons” (w.e.f. 28-9-1996). 
3. Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for “three independent persons” (w.e.f. 28-9-1996). 

7 

 
                                                           
newspaper industry in different regions of the country and to any other circumstances which to the Board 
may seem relevant. 

1[Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that nothing in this sub-section shall 
prevent the Board from making recommendations for fixation or revision of rates of wages on all India 
basis.] 

11.  Powers  and  procedure  of  the  Board.—(1)  Subject  to  the  provisions  contained  in  sub-section 
(2), the Board may exercise all or any of the powers which an Industrial Tribunal constituted under the 
Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), exercises for the adjudication of an industrial dispute referred 
to it and shall, subject to the provisions contained in this Act, and the rules, if any, made thereunder, have 
power to regulate its own procedure. 

(2)  Any  representations  made  to  the  Board  and  any  documents  furnished  to  it  by  way  of  evidence 
shall be open to inspection on payment of such fee as may be prescribed, by any person interested in the 
matter. 

(3) If, for any reason, a vacancy occurs in the office of Chairman or any other member of the Board, 
the Central Government shall fill the vacancy by appointing another person thereto in accordance with the 
provisions of section 9 and any proceeding may be continued before the Board so reconstituted from the 
stage at which the vacancy occurred. 

12.  Powers  of  Central  Government  to  enforce  recommendations  of  the  Wage  Board.—(1)  As 
soon  as  may  be,  after  the  receipt  of  the  recommendations  of  the  Board,  the  Central  Government  shall 
make an order in terms of the recommendations or subject to such modifications, if any, as it thinks fit, 
being modifications which, in the opinion of the Central Government, do not effect important alterations 
in the character of the recommendations. 

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Central Government may, if it thinks 

fit,— 

(a)  make  such  modifications  in  the  recommendations,  not  being  modifications  of  the  nature 

referred to in sub-section (1), as it thinks fit: 

Provided that before making any such modifications, the Central Government shall cause notice 
to be given to all persons likely to be affected thereby in such manner as may be prescribed, and shall 
take into account any representations which they may make in this behalf in writing; or 

(b)  refer  the  recommendations  or  any  part  thereof  to  the  Board,  in  which  case,  the  Central 
Government  shall  consider  its  further  recommendations  and  make  an  order  either  in  terms  of  the 
recommendations or with such modifications of the nature referred to in sub-section (1) as it thinks 
fit. 

(3) Every order made by the Central Government under this section shall be published in the Official 
Gazette together with the recommendations of the Board relating to the order and the order shall come 
into operation on the date of publication or on such date, whether prospectively or retrospectively, as may 
be specified in the order. 

13. Working journalists entitled to wages at rates not less than those specified in the order.—On 
the  coming  into  operation  of  an  order  of  the  Central  Government  under  section  12,  every  working 
journalist shall be entitled to be paid by his employer wages at the rate which shall in no case be less than 
the rate of wages specified in the order. 

13A.  Power  of  Government  to  fix  interim  rates  of  wages.—(1)  Notwithstanding  anything 
contained in this Act, where the Central Government is of opinion that it is necessary so to do, it may, 
after  consultation  with  the  Board,  by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  fix  interim  rates  of  wages  in 
respect of working journalists. 

1. The Explanation added by Act 31 of 1989, s. 3. 

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(2)  Any  interim  rates  of  wages  so  fixed  shall  be  binding  on  all  employers  in  relation to newspaper 
establishments and every working journalist shall be entitled to be paid wages at a rate which shall, in no 
case, be less than the interim rates of wages fixed under sub-section (1). 

(3) Any interim rates of wages fixed under sub-section (1) shall remain in force until the order of the 

Central Government under section 12 comes into operation.]  

1[13AA.  Constitution  of  Tribunal  for  fixing  or  revising  rates  of  wages  in  respect  of  working 
journalists.—(1)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  this  Act,  where  the  Central  Government  is  of 
opinion that the Board constituted under section 9 for the purpose of fixing or revising rates of wages in 
respect of working journalists under this Act has not been able  to function (for any reason whatsoever) 
effectively,  and  in  the  circumstances,  it  is  necessary  so  to  do,  it  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official 
Gazette,  constitute  a  Tribunal,  which  shall  consist  of  a  person  who  is,  or  has  been,  a  Judge  of  a  High 
Court or the Supreme Court, for the purpose of fixing or revising rates of wages in respect of working 
journalists under this Act. 

(2) The provisions of sections 10 to 13A shall apply to, and in relation to, the Tribunal constituted 
under  sub-section  (1)  of  this  section,  the  Central  Government  and  working  journalists,  subject  to  the 
modifications that— 

(a) the references to the Board therein, wherever they occur, shall be construed as references to 

the Tribunal; 

(b) in sub-section (3) of section 11,— 

(i)  the  reference  to  the  office  of  Chairman  or  any  other  member  of  the  Board  shall  be 

construed as a reference to the office of the person constituting the Tribunal; and 

(ii)  the  reference  to  section  9  shall  be  construed  as  a  reference  to  sub-section  (1)  of  this 

section; and 

(c) the references in section 13 and section 13A to section 12 shall be construed as references to 

section 12 read with this section. 

(3) The Tribunal, in discharging its functions under this Act, may act on, the evidence recorded by the 

Wage Board or partly recorded by the Wage Board and partly recorded by itself: 

Provided  that  if  the  Tribunal  is  of  opinion  that  further  examination  of  any  of  the  witnesses  whose 
evidence has already been recorded is necessary in the interests of justice, it may re-summon any such 
witness,  and  after  such  further  examination,  cross-examination  and  re-examination,  if  any,  as  it  may 
permit, the witness shall be discharged. 

(4) On the constitution of a Tribunal under sub-section (1), the Board constituted under section 9 and 
functioning immediately before such constitution shall cease to exist and the members constituting that 
Board shall be deemed to have vacated their offices: 

Provided  that  any  interim  rates  of  wages  fixed  by  the  Central  Government  under  section  13A  in 
respect  of  working  journalists  and  in  force  immediately  before  the  constitution  of  the  Tribunal  shall 
remain in force until the order of the Central Government under section 12 read with this section comes 
into operation.]  

2[CHAPTER IIA 
NON-JOURNALIST NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEES 

13B.  Fixation  or  revision  of  rates  of  wages  of  non-journalist  newspaper  employees.—(1)  The 

Central Government may, in the manner hereinafter provided,— 

(a) fix rates of wages in respect of non-journalist newspaper employees; and 

(b) revise, from time to time, at such intervals as it may think fit, the rates of wages fixed under 

this section. 

1. Ins. by Act 6 of 1979, s. 3. (w.e.f. 31-1-1979). 
2. Ins. by Act 60 of 1974, s. 4. 

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(2) The rates of wages may be fixed or revised by the Central Government in respect of non-journalist 

newspaper employees for time work and for piece work. 

13C. Wage Board for fixing or revising rates of wages in respect of non-journalist newspaper 
employees.—For the purpose of fixing or revising rates of wages in respect of non-journalist newspaper 
employees under this Act, the Central Government shall, as and when necessary, constitute a Wage Board 
which shall consist of— 

(a) 1[three persons] representing employers in relation to newspaper establishments; 
(b) 1[three persons] representing non-journalist newspaper employees; and 
(c) 2[four independent persons], one of whom shall be a person who is, or has been, a Judge of a 
High Court or the Supreme Court and who shall be appointed by that Government as the Chairman 
thereof. 

13D. Application of certain provisions.—The provisions of sections 10 to 13A shall apply to, and in 
relation  to,  the  Board  constituted  under  section  13C,  the  Central  Government  and  non-journalist 
newspaper employees, subject to the modifications that— 

(a)  the  references  to  the  Board  and  working  journalists  therein,  wherever  they  occur,  shall  be 
construed respectively as references to the Board constituted under section 13C and to non-journalist 
newspaper employees; 

(b) the references in sub-section (3) of section 11 to section 9 shall be construed as a reference to 

section 13C; and 

(c) the references in section 13 and section 13A to section 12 shall be construed as references to 

section 12 read with this section.] 
3[13DD.  Constitution  of  Tribunal  for  fixing  or  revising  rates  of  wages  in  respect  of  non-
journalist  newspaper  employees.—(1)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  this  Act,  where  the 
Central Government is of opinion that the Board constituted under section 13C for the purpose of fixing 
or revising rates of wages in respect of non-journalist newspaper employees under this Act has not been 
able to function (for any reason whatsoever) effectively, and in the circumstances, it is necessary so to do, 
it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a Tribunal, which shall consist of a person who 
is, or has been, a Judge of a High Court or the Supreme Court, for the purpose of fixing or revising rates 
of wages in respect of non-journalist newspaper employees under this Act. 

(2) The provisions of sections 10 to 13A shall apply to, and in relation to, the Tribunal constituted 
under sub-section (1) of this section, the Central Government and non-journalist newspaper employees, 
subject to the modifications that— 

(a)  the  references  to  the  Board  and  working  journalists  therein,  wherever  they  occur,  shall  be 

construed respectively as references to the Tribunal and to non-journalist newspaper employees; 

(b) in sub-section (3) of section 11,— 

(i)  the  reference  to  the  office  of  Chairman  or  any  other  member  of  the  Board  shall  be 

construed as a reference to the office of the person constituting the Tribunal; and 

(ii)  the  reference  to  section  9  shall  be  construed  as  a  reference  to  sub-section  (1)  of  this 

section; and 

(c) the references in section 13 and section 13A to section 12 shall be construed as references 

to section 12 read with this section. 

(3) The Tribunal, in discharging its functions under this Act, may act on the evidence recorded by the 

Wage Board or partly recorded by the Wage Board and partly recorded by itself: 

Provided  that  if  the  Tribunal  is  of  opinion  that  further  examination  of  any  of  the  witnesses  whose 
evidence has already been recorded is necessary in the interests of justice, it may re-summon any such 

1. Subs. by Act 34 of 1996, s. 3, for “two persons” (w.e.f. 28-9-1996). 
2. Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for “three independent persons” (w.e.f. 28-9-1996). 
3. Ins. by Act 6 of 1979, s. 4 (w.e.f. 31-1-1979). 

10 

 
                                                           
witness,  and  after  such  further  examination,  cross-examination  and  re-examination,  if  any,  as  it  may 
permit, the witness shall be discharged. 

(4) On the constitution of a Tribunal under sub-section (1), the Board constituted under section 13C 
and functioning  immediately  before  such  constitution  shall  cease  to  exist and  the  members constituting 
that Board shall be deemed to have vacated their offices: 

Provided  that  any  interim  rates  of  wages  fixed  by  the  Central  Government  under  section  13A  read 
with section 13D in respect of non-journalist newspaper employees and in force immediately before the 
constitution of the Tribunal shall remain in force until the order of the Central Government under section 
12 read with this section comes into operation.] 

CHAPTER III 

APPLICATION OF CERTAIN ACTS TO NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEES 

14.  Act  20  of  1946  to  apply  to  newspaper  establishments.—The  provisions  of  the  Industrial 
Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946, as in force for the time being, shall apply to every newspaper 
establishment wherein twenty or more newspaper employees are employed or were employed on any day 
of the preceding twelve months as if such newspaper establishment were an industrial establishment to 
which the aforesaid Act has been applied by a notification under sub-section (3) of section 1 thereof, and 
as if a newspaper employee were a workman within the meaning of that Act. 

15. Act 19 of 1952 to apply to newspaper establishments.—The Employees’ Provident Funds 1[and 
Miscellaneous  Provisions]  Act,  1952,  as  in  force  for  the  time  being,  shall  apply  to  every  newspaper 
establishment  in  which  twenty  or  more  persons  are  employed  on  any  day,  as  if  such  newspaper 
establishment were a factory to which the aforesaid Act had been applied by a notification of the Central 
Government under sub-section (3) of section 1 thereof, and as if a newspaper employee were an employee 
within the meaning of that Act. 

CHAPTER IV 

MISCELLANEOUS 

16. Effect of laws and agreements inconsistent with this Act.—(1) The provisions of this Act shall 
have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law or in the terms of 
any award, agreement or contract of service, whether made before or after the commencement of this Act: 

Provided that where under any such award, agreement, contract of service or otherwise, a newspaper 
employee is entitled to benefits in respect of any matter which are more favourable to him than those to 
which he would be entitled under this Act, the newspaper employee shall continue to be entitled to the 
more favourable benefits in respect of that matter, notwithstanding that he receives benefits in respect of 
other matters under this Act. 

(2)  Nothing  contained  in  this  Act  shall  be  construed  to  preclude  any  newspaper  employee  from 
entering into an agreement with an employer for granting him rights or privileges in respect of any matter 
which are more favourable to him than those to which he would be entitled under this Act.  

2[16A. Employer not to dismiss, discharge, etc., newspaper employees.—No employer in relation 
to  a  newspaper  establishment  shall,  by  reason  of  his  liability  for  payment  of  wages  to  newspaper 
employees at the rates specified in an order of the Central Government under section 12, or under section 
12 read with section 13AA or section 13DD, dismiss, discharge or retrench any newspaper employee.]  

3[17. Recovery of money due from an employer.—(1) Where any amount is due under this Act to a 
newspaper  employee  from  an  employer,  the  newspaper  employee  himself,  or  any  person  authorised  by 
him in writing in this behalf, or in the case of the death of the employee, any member of his family may, 
without  prejudice  to  any  other  mode  of  recovery,  make  an  application  to the  State  Government  for the 
recovery  of  the  amount  due  to  him,  and  if  the  State  Government,  or  such  authority,  as  the  State 

1. Subs. by Act 99 of 1976, s. 17, for “and Family Pension Fund” (w.e.f. 1-8-1976). 
2. Ins. by Act 36 of 1981, s. 3 (w.e.f. 13-8-1980). 
3. Subs. by Act 65 of 1962, s. 5, for section 17 (w.e.f. 15-1-1963). 

11 

 
                                                           
Government may specify in this behalf, is satisfied that any amount is so due, it shall issue a certificate 
for  that  amount  to  the  Collector,  and  the  Collector  shall  proceed  to  recover  that  amount  in  the  same 
manner as an arrear of land revenue. 

(2)  If  any  question  arises  as  to  the  amount  due  under  this  Act  to  a  newspaper  employee  from  his 
employer, the State Government may, on its own motion or upon application made to it, refer the question 
to any Labour Court constituted by it under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947) or under any 
corresponding law relating to investigation and settlement of industrial disputes in force in the State and 
the said Act or law shall have effect in relation to the Labour Court as if the question so referred were a 
matter referred to the Labour Court for adjudication under that Act or law. 

(3) The decision of the Labour Court shall be forwarded by it to the State Government which made 
the reference and any amount found due by the Labour Court may be recovered in the manner provided in 
sub-section (1). 

17A.  Maintenance  of  registers,  records,  and  muster-rolls.—Every  employer  in  relation  to  a 
newspaper establishment shall prepare and maintain such registers, records and muster-rolls and in such 
manner as may be prescribed. 

17B.  Inspectors.—(1)  The  State  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  appoint 
such persons as it thinks fit to be Inspectors for the purposes of this Act and may define the local limits 
within which they shall exercise their functions. 

(2) Any Inspector appointed under sub-section (1) may for the purpose of ascertaining whether any of 
the provisions of this Act or of the  Working Journalists (Fixation of Rates of Wages) Act, 1958 (29 of 
1958) have been complied with in respect of a newspaper establishment— 

(a) require an employer to furnish such information as he may consider necessary; 

(b)  at  any  reasonable  time  enter  any  newspaper  establishment  or  any  premises  connected 
therewith  and  require  any  one  found  in  charge  thereof  to  produce  before  him  for  examination  any 
accounts, books, registers and other documents relating to the employment of persons or the payment 
of wages in the establishment; 

(c) examine with respect to any matter relevant to any of the purposes aforesaid, the employer, his 
agent or servant or any other person found in charge of the newspaper establishment or any premises 
connected  therewith  or  any  person  whom  the  Inspector  has  reasonable  cause  to  believe  to  be  or  to 
have been an employee in the establishment; 

(d)  make  copies  of  or  take  extracts  from  any  book,  register  or  other  documents  maintained  in 

relation to the newspaper establishment; 

(e) exercise such other powers as may be prescribed. 

(3)  Every  Inspector  shall  be  deemed  to be  a  public  servant  within the  meaning of  the  Indian  Penal 

Code (45 of 1860). 

(4)  Any  person  required  to  produce  any  document  or  thing  or  to  give  information  by  an  Inspector 

under sub-section (2) shall be legally bound to do so.] 

18. Penalty.—1[(1) If any employer contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or any rule or order 

made thereunder, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. 

(1A) Whoever, having been convicted of any offence under this Act, is again convicted of an offence 
involving the contravention of the same provision, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five 
hundred rupees. 

(1B) Where an offence has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time the offence 
was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of 
the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be 
proceeded against and punished accordingly: 

1. Subs. by Act 65 of 1962, s. 6, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 15-1-1993). 

12 

 
                                                           
Provided  that  nothing  contained  in  this  sub-section  shall  render  any  such  person  liable  to  any 
punishment provided in this section if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or 
that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. 

(1C) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1B), where an offence under this section has 
been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or 
connivance of, or that the commission of the offence is attributable to, any gross negligence on the part of 
any  director,  manager,  secretary  or  other  officer  of  the  company,  such  director,  manager,  secretary  or 
other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of such offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against 
and punished accordingly. 

(1D) Forthe purposes of this section,— 

(a) “company” means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; 

and 

(b) “director” in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm.] 

(2) No Court inferior to that of a Presidency Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class shall try any 

offence punishable under this section. 

(3) No Court shall take cognizance of an offence under this section, unless the complaint thereof is 

made within six months of the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed. 

19. Indemnity.—No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Chairman or any 
other member of the Board  1[or the person contributing the Tribunal]  2[or an Inspector appointed under 
this Act] for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done. 

3[19A. Defects in appointments not to invalidate acts.—No act or proceeding of the Board shall be 
questioned on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy in, or defect in the constitution of the 
Board. 

19B.  Saving.—Nothing  in  this  Act  or  the  Working  Journalists  (Fixation  of  Rates  of  Wages)  Act, 
1958 (29 of 1958) shall apply to  4[any newspaper employee] who is an employee of the Government to 
whom  the  Fundamental  and  Supplementary  Rules,  Civil  Services  (Classification,  Control  and  Appeal) 
Rules,  Civil  Services  (Temporary  Service)  Rules,  Revised  Leave  Rules,  Civil  Service  Regulations, 
Civilians  in  Defence  Services  (Classification,  Control  and  Appeal)  Rules  or  the  Indian  Railway 
Establishment  Code  or  any  other rules or regulations that  may  be  notified in this  behalf  by  the  Central 
Government in the Official Gazette, apply.] 

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

make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. 

(2)  In  particular  and  without  prejudice  to  the  generality  of  the  foregoing  power,  such  rules  may 

provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— 

(a) payment of gratuity to working journalists; 

(b) hours of work of working journalists; 

(c)  holidays,  earned  leave,  leave  on  medical  certificate, casual  leave  or  any  other  kind  of  leave 

admissible to working journalists; 

5[(d)  the  procedure  to  be  followed  by  the  Board  6[or,  as  the  case  may  be,  the  Tribunal,]  in  the 

discharge of its functions under this Act; 

(e) the form of nominations, and the manner in which nominations may be made; 

1. Ins. by Act 6 of 1979, s. 5 (w.e.f. 31-1-1979). 
2. Ins. by Act 65 of 1962, s. 7 (w.e.f. 15-1-1963). 
3. Ins. by s. 8, ibid. (w.e.f. 15-1-1963). 
4. Subs. by Act 60 of 1974, s. 5. 
5. Subs. by Act 65 of 1962, s. 9, for clauses (d), (e) and (f) (w.e.f. 15-1-1963). 
6. Ins. by Act 6 of 1979, s. 6 (w.e.f. 31-1-1979). 

13 

 
                                                           
(f)  the  manner  in  which  any  person  may  be  appointed  for  the  purposes  of  sub-section  (3)  of 

section 5A; 

(g) the variation or cancellation of nominations; 

(h) the manner of giving notice under clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 12; 

(i)  the  registers,  records  and  muster-rolls  to  be  prepared  and  maintained  by  newspaper 
establishments, the forms in which they should be prepared and maintained and the particulars to be 
entered therein; 

(j) the powers that may be exercised by an Inspector; 

(k) any other matter which has to be, or may be, prescribed.] 

1[(3) 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  2[or  in  two  or  more  successive  sessions],  and  if  before  the  expiry  of  the  session  3[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.] 

21. [Repeal of Act 1 of 1955].—Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1960 (58 of 1960), s. 2 and 

the First Schedule.  

_____ 

1. Subs. by Act 65 of 1962, s. 9, for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 15-1-1963). 
2. Subs. by Act 60 of 1974, s. 6, for “or in two successive sessions”. 
3. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for “in which it is so laid or the session immediately following”. 

14 

 
 
 
                                                           
1[THE SCHEDULE 

[See section 2(d)] 

1. For the purposes of clause (d) of section 2,— 

(1)  two  or  more  newspaper  establishments  under  common  control  shall  be  deemed  to  be  one 

newspaper establishment; 

(2) two or more newspaper establishments owned by an individual and his or her spouse shall be 
deemed to be one newspaper establishment unless it is shown that such spouse is a sole proprietor or 
partner or a shareholder of a corporate body on the basis of his or her own individual funds; 

(3)  two  or  more  newspaper  establishments  publishing  newspapers  bearing  the  same  or  similar 
title and in the same language in any place in India or bearing the same or similar title but in different 
languages in the same State or Union territory shall be deemed to be one newspaper establishment. 

2.  For  the  purposes  of  paragraph  1  (1),  two  or  more  establishments  shall  be  deemed  to  be  under 

common control— 

(a) (i) where the newspaper establishments are owned by a common individual or individuals; 

(ii) where the newspaper establishments are owned by firms, if such firms have a substantial number 

of common partners; 

(iii) where the newspaper establishments are owned by bodies corporate, if one body corporate is a 
subsidiary  of  the  other  body  corporate,  or  both  are  subsidiaries  of  a  common  holding  company  or  a 
substantial  number  of  their  equity  shares  are  owned  by  the  same  person  or  group  of  persons,  whether 
incorporated or not; 

(iv)  where  one  establishment  is  owned  by  a  body  corporate  and  the  other  is  owned  by  a  firm,  if  a 
substantial number of partners of the firm together hold a substantial number of equity shares of the body 
corporate; 

(v) where one is owned by a body corporate and the other is owned by a firm having bodies corporate 
as  its  partners  if  a  substantial  number  of  equity  shares  of  such  bodies  corporate  are  owned,  directly  or 
indirectly, by the same person or group of persons, whether incorporated or not, or 

(b) where there is functional integrality between concerned newspaper establishments.]  

1. Ins. by Act 31 of 1989, s. 4. 

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