THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS (PROTECTION OF PUBLICATION) ACT, 1977
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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
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SECTIONS
1.  Short title, extent and commencement. 
2.  Definition. 
3.  Publication of reports of Parliamentary proceedings privileged. 
4.  Act also to apply to Parliamentary proceedings broadcast by wireless telegraphy.
 
 
 
THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS (PROTECTION OF PUBLICATION) ACT, 1977

ACT NO. 15 OF 1977

[18th April, 1977.] 

An Act to protect the publication of reports of proceedings of Parliament.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

1.  Short  title,  extent  and  commencement.—(1)  This  Act  may  be  called  the  Parliamentary 
Proceedings (Protection of Publication) Act, 1977. 

(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir[^1].

(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 25th day of March, 1977.

2. Definition.—In this Act, “newspaper” means any printed periodical work containing public news 
or  comments  on  public  news,  and  includes  a  news  agency  supplying  material  for  publication  in  a 
newspaper.

3.  Publication  of  reports  of  Parliamentary  proceedings  privileged.—(1)  Save  as  otherwise 
provided in sub-section (2), no person shall be liable to any proceedings, civil or criminal, in any court in 
respect of the publication in a newspaper of a substantially true report of any proceedings of either House 
of Parliament, unless the publication is proved to have been made with malice. 

(2)  Nothing  in  sub-section  (1)  shall  be  construed  as  protecting  the  publication  of  any  matter,  the 
publication of which is not for the public good. 

4. Act also to apply to Parliamentary proceedings broadcast by wireless telegraphy.—This Act 
shall  apply  in  relation  to  reports  or  matters  broadcast  by  means  of  wireless  telegraphy  as  part  of  any 
programme or service provided by means of a broadcasting station situate within the territories to which 
this Act extends as it applies in relation to reports or matters published in a newspaper.

[^1].  Vide Notification No. S.O. 3912 (E), dated 30th October, 2019, this Act is made applicable to the Union territory of Jammu 
and Kashmir and the Union territory of Ladakh.