The Union Cabinet on Thursday decided to amend the Press and Registration of Books Act 1867 to streamline age-old processes and address certain issues governed by its print media policy and guidelines and rules on this sector.
The amendments propose to cover Internet editions of newspapers and include provisions to limit foreign news content and investment in print media.
Persons convicted of terrorist and unlawful activities would not be allowed to bring out any publication under the proposed Press and Registration of Books and Publications Bill 2010. There was no such provision in the earlier law.
Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, information and broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said the comprehensive legislation would address issues ranging from title verification, definitions of publications, including Internet editions of newspapers. “It will also have provisions like preventing blocking of titles and provision for limits on foreign news content and foreign investment,” she added.
The minister said the proposed law aimed to streamline the process of title verification and prevent “squatters” on titles which have been blocked for many years and with no publication being brought out.
The proposed bill is expected to be “more user-friendly”.
Said information and broadcasting secretary Raghu Menon: “The publication should be out within a year of allotment of title, and there should be regular submission of annual statements by the publisher.”
The Indian Newspaper Society expressed concern over some proposed changes, calling them “draconian”.