Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) Proscription etc of certain documents.- Where in the opinion of the Government any newspaper book or other document made, printed or published whether before or after this Act came into force contains any prejudicial report, the Government may by order,- (a) require the editor, printer, publisher or person in possession of such newspaper, book or other document to inform the authority specified in the order of the name of address of any person concerned in the making of such report; (b) provide for the safe keeping by persons in possession of such news paper, book or other document and copies thereof; (c) require the delivery of such newspaper, book, or other document and any copy thereof to an authority specified in the order; (d) prohibit the further publication, sale or distribution of such newspaper, book or other document of any extract there from or of any translation thereof; (e) declare such newspaper, book or other document and every copy or translation thereof or extract therefrom to be forfeited to the Government. (2) Where in pursuance of sub-section (1) any newspaper, book or other document is required to be delivered to a specified authority, that authority may enter upon and search any premises whereon or wherein such newspaper, book or other document or any copy thereof is or is reasonably suspected to be. (3) Where in pursuance of sub-section (1) any newspaper, book or other document has been declared to be forfeited to the Government any police officer may seize any copy thereof, wherever found in the State of Travancore-Cochin and any Magistrate may, by warrant authorise any Police Officer not below the rank of inspector to enter upon and search any premises whereon or wherein such newspaper, book or other document or any copy thereof is or is reasonably suspected to be. (4) Where in the case of a newspaper, book or other document, the Government are satisfied that it habitually publishes prejudicial reports or publishes any matter of a scandalous, obscene, indecent or defamatory character, they may, by notified order- (a) prohibit the printing and publishing of the newspaper, book or other document and declare such newspaper, hook or other document and every copy or translation thereof or extract therefrom to be forfeited to the Government; or (b) impose such conditions as appear to them to be necessary as respects the further publication of the newspaper, book or other document. (5) Any person aggrieved by an order under sub-section (4) may within three months of the date of such order apply to the High Court to set aside or modify such order. Every such application shall be heard and determined by a Bench of not less than two judges. (6) If any person contravenes any order made under this section, he shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both. Explanation: In this section document includes news-sheet, gramaphone record, sound tracts or any other articles on which sounds have been recorded with a view to their subsequent reproduction.