Punjab Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1952

No: 11 Dated: Jul, 22 1952

THE PUNJAB CINEMAS (REGULATION) ACT, 1952

Punjab Act 11 of 1952

    An Act to make provision for regulating exhibitions by means of cinematographs in the Punjab

It is hereby enacted as follows :-

1. Short title, extent and commencement - (1) This Act may be called the Punjab Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1952.

(2) It extend to the whole of the State of Punjab.

(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 28th of July, 1952.

2. Definitions. - In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -

(a) 'Cinematograph' includes any apparatus for the representation of moving pictures or series of pictures ;

(b) 'Government' means the Government of the State of Punjab ;

(c) 'Place' includes a house, building, tent and any description of transport, whether by sea, land or air ;

(d) 'prescribed' means prescribed by rules made under this Act.

Explanation - For the purpose of this clause Indian News Reviews produced in India and approved by the Central Government after considering the recommendations of the Chief Producer, Films Division, Bombay, shall be deemed to be films dealing with news and current events.

3. Cinematograph exhibitions to be licensed. - Save as otherwise provided in this Act, no person shall give an exhibition, by means of a cinematograph,elsewhere than in a place licensed under this Act or otherwise than in compliance with any condition and restriction by such licence.

4. Licensing Authority. - The authority having power to grant licences under this Act (hereinafter referred to as the licensing authority) shall be the District Magistrate :

Provided that the Government may by notification in the official Gazette, constitute for the whole or any part of the State, such other authority as it may specify therein to be the licensing authority for the purposes of this Act.

5. Restrictions on powers of licensing authority. - (1) The licensing authority shall not grant a licence under this Act unless it is satisfied that -

(a) the rules made under this Act have been complied with, and

(b) adequate precautions have been taken in the place, in respect of which the license is to be given to provide for the safety of the persons attending exhibitions therein.

(2) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this section and to the control of the Government, the licensing authority may grant licences under this Act to such persons as it thinks fit, on such terms and conditions as it may determine.

(3) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the licensing authority -

(i) refusing to grant a licence under this Act; or

(ii) approving the classification of seats for or the rates of admission to any cinematograph exhibition under the rules made under this Act ; may within such time as may be prescribed, appeal to the Government or to such officer as the government may specify in this behalf and the appellate authority may make such order as it thinks fit.

(4) The Government may, from time to time, issue directions to licensees generally or to any licensee in particular for the purpose of regulating the exhibition of any film or class of films, so that scientific films intended for educational purposes, films dealing with news and current events, documentary films or indigenous films secure an adequate opportunity of being exhibited, and where any such directions have been issued, those directions, shall be deemed to be additional conditions subject to which the licence has been granted.