PRESS COUNCIL (REPEAL) ACT, 1976
24 of 1976
11th February, 1976
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS On the basis of the recommendations of the Press Commission the Press Council of India was established on 4th July, 1966. under
the Press Council Act, 1965mainly with the object of maintaining and improving the standards of newspapers and news agencies and to preserve the freedom of the Press. The Functions to be performed by the Press Council under the Press Council Act, 1965included, among other things, the building up of a code of a code of conduct for newspapers, news agencies and journalists in accordance with high professional standards of ensuring on the part of newspapers, etc., the maintenance of high standards of public taste,. forstering a due sense of both the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and encouraging the growth of a sense of responsibility and public service among all those engaged in the profession of journalism. It was felt that the institution of the Press Council was not able to carry on its functions effectively to achieve the objects for which the Council was established. It was, therefore, decided to repeal the Press Council Act. As the term of the last Press Council was due to expire on 31st December. 1975 and since Parliament was not in session, the Press Council Act,1965 was repealed on. 1st January 1976, by the Press Council (Repeal) Ordinance, 1975. This Bill seeks to replace the "said" Ordinance Gaz. of India, 23-1-1976, Pt II, S. 2, Ext.. p. 441.
An Act to repeal the Press Council Act, 1965and to provide for certain matters incidental thereto. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
SECTION 01: SHORT TITLE AND COMMENCEMENT
(1) This Act may be called. THE PRESS COUNCIL REPEAL) ACT. 1976.
(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of January, 1976.
SECTION 02: DEFINITIONS
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "appointed day" means the 1st day of January, 1976;
(b) "Press Council" means the Press Council of India established under section 3 of the Press Council Act, 1965.
SECTION 03: REPEAL OF ACT 34 OF 1965, AND DISSOLUTION OF PRESS COUNCIL
On the appointed day, the Press Council Act, 1965, shall stand repealed, and the Press Council shall stand dissolved.
SECTION 04: CONSEQUENTIAL PROVISIONS
On the dissolution of the Press Council,-
(a) all monies and other property of whatever, kind (including the Fund of the Press Council) owned by, or vested in, the Press Council, immediately before the appointed day shall, on the appointed day, stand transferred to and vest in the Central Government;
(b) subject to the provisions of clause (d), any suit, appeal or other proceeding of whatever nature pending immediately before the appointed day before any court or other authority in which the Press Council is a party shall, on the appointed day, abate;
(c) any proceeding of whatever nature pending immediately before the appointed day before the Press Council shall, on the appointed day, abate;
(d) all liabilities and obligations of the Press Council of whatever kind and subsisting immediately before the appointed day, shall, on and from the appointed day, be deemed to be the liabilities or obligations, as the case may be, of the Central Government, and any proceeding or cause of action pending or existing .immediately before the appointed day by or against the Press Council in relation to such liability or obligation may, as from the appointed day, be continued and enforced by or against the Central Government;
(e) any thing, or any action, which ought to have been done or taken by the Press Council before the appointed day with respect to the termination of service of its employees or with respect to any matter in relation thereto or arising therefrom, but not so done or taken by that Council, may, on and from the appointed day, be done or taken by the Central Government.
SECTION 05: REPEAL AND SAVING
(1) The Press Council (Repeal) Ordinance. 1975, is hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding such appeal, anything done or any action taken under section 4-of the Ordinance so repealed shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act.
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