Rajya Sabha passes Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill to replace PRB Act, 1867

The Rajya Sabha passed a bill which replaces the existing legislation that dictates print and publishing industry registration. The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill 2023 has been passed by a voice note, said media reports.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said that this will enable ease of doing business for publishing companies by simplifying the process of registration and decriminalising archaic penal provisions.

While discussing the bill, Thakur pointed out that the bill eases the bureaucratic burden and improves the ease of doing business. He also noted that those involved in terrorist activities and other unlawful acts against the state will be denied permission to start a paper or periodical.

The bill replaces the colonial-era Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, of 1867, which has been in use until now.

The PRB was approved last month by the Union Cabinet to simplify the registration process for periodicals and remove the provision for persecution and imprisonment of publishers.

The new law also aims to remove two provisions that wanted the publishers and printers to file a declaration before the district magistrate. It also aims to do away with the penal provisions of the PRB Act, which subjected publishers to six months of imprisonment for improper declaration of information.

The new bill also reportedly provides an appellate authority. The registration process earlier required the publisher to submit an application with the district collector who then sends it to the Registrar of Newspapers in India to check for title availability. With the new process, the title can now be checked online, reducing the time required for registration of newspapers and periodicals.

Salient features of the bill:

*The Bill provides for the registration of newspapers, periodicals, and books. It also provides for the cataloging of books.

*The Bill provides for the registration of periodicals, which include any publication containing public news or comments on public news. Periodicals do not include books or scientific and academic journals.

*It provides that a declaration specifying the printer/ publisher be made to the District Magistrate (DM). The DM sends the declaration to the Press Registrar, who then issues a certificate of registration. Making such declaration and authentication by the DM is necessary for the publication of the newspaper.

*An exact reproduction of a foreign periodical may be printed in India only with the prior approval of the central government. The manner of registration of such periodicals will be prescribed.

*The Act provides for the central government to appoint a Press Registrar who maintains a register of newspapers. The Bill provides for the Press Registrar General of India who will issue registration certificates for all periodicals.

*The Bill allows the Press Registrar General to suspend a periodical’s registration for a minimum period of 30 days which can extend to 180 days. The registration may be suspended due to: (i) registration obtained by furnishing false information, (ii) failure to publish periodicals continuously, and (iii) giving false particulars in annual statements.

*The Bill empowers the Press Registrar General to impose penalties for: (i) publishing periodicals without registration (up to five lakh rupees), (ii) failing to furnish annual statement within the specified time (up to Rs 20,000 on first default).

*If a periodical is published without registration, the Press Registrar General may direct its publication to be stopped. Not complying with such direction within six months will be punishable with imprisonment of up to six months.

*Any person may appeal against the refusal to issue a registration certificate, suspension/ cancellation of registration, or imposition of penalty. Such appeals may be filed before the Press and Registration Appellate Board within 60 days.