Press Council Act, 1978
No: 37 Dated: Sep, 07 1978
THE PRESS COUNCIL ACT, 1978
ACT NO. 37 OF 1978
An Act to establish a Press Council for the purpose of preserving the freedom of the Press and of maintaining and improving the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-ninth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title and extent.—(1) This Act may be called the Press Council Act, 1978.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Council;
(b) “Council” means the Press Council of India established under section 4;
(c) “member” means a member of the Council and includes its Chairman;
(d) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(e) the expressions “editor” and “newspaper” have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 (25 of 1867), and the expression “working journalist” has the meaning assigned to it in the Working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 (45 of 1955).
3. Rule of construction respecting enactments not extending to the State of Jammu and Kashmir or Sikkim.—Any reference in this Act to a law which is not in force in *the State of Sikkim shall, in relation to that State, be construed as a reference to the corresponding law, if any, in force in that State
STATE AMENDMENT
Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
Section 3.--Omit "Jammu and Kashmir or".
[Vide Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, Notification No. S.O. 1123(E), dated (18-3-2020) and vide Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification No. S.O. 3774(E), dated (23-10-2020).]
CHAPTER II
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRESS COUNCIL
4. Incorporation of the Council.—(1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, there shall be established a Council by the name of the Press Council of India.
(2) The said Council shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal and shall by the said name sue and be sued.