Police-Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966
No: 33 Dated: Dec, 02 1966
THE POLICE-FORCES (RESTRICTION OF RIGHTS) ACT, 1966
ACT NO. 33 OF 1966
An Act to provide for the restriction of certain rights conferred by Part III of the Constitution in their application to the members of the Forces charged with the maintenance of public order so as to ensure the proper discharge of their duties and the maintenance of discipline among them.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventeenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Police-Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force on such 1 date as may be appointed in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette,—
(a) in a 2Union territory, by the Central Government; and
(b) in a 3 State by the Government of that State:
Provided that different dates may be appointed by the Central Government for different Union territories.
2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “member of a police-force” means any person appointed or enrolled under any enactment specified in the Schedule;
(b) “police-force” includes any force charged with the maintenance of public order;
(c) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act.
3. Restrictions respecting right to form association, freedom of speech, etc.—(1) No member of a police-force shall, without the express sanction of the Central Government or of the prescribed authority,—
(a) be a member of, or be associated in any way with, any trade union, labour union, political association or with any class of trade unions, labour unions or political associations; or
(b) be a member of, or be associated in any way with, any other society, institution, association or organisation that is not recognised as part of the force of which he is a member or is not of a purely social, recreational or religious nature; or
(c) communicate with the press or publish or cause to be published any book, letter or other document except where such communication or publication is in the bona fide discharge of his duties or is of a purely literary, artistic or scientific character or is of a prescribed nature.
Explanation.—If any question arises as to whether any society, institution, association or organisation is of a purely social, recreational or religious nature under clause (b) of this sub-section, the decision of the Central Government thereon shall be final.
(2) No member of a police-force shall participate in, or address, any meeting or take part in any demonstration organised by any body of persons for any political purposes or for such other purposes as may be prescribed.
4. Penalty.—Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 3 shall, without prejudice to any other action that may be taken against him, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.