Discuss the major regulation enacted by the British rulers to curb the freedom of press in India.
The regulations by the British to curb the freedom of press were a major hit on the civil liberties. It was started with the Censorship of Press Act of 1799, which imposed war time Press restrictions including that of pre-censorship.
It was followed by the Licensing Regulations of 1823, which made the starting of a press without license a penal offence.
In 1828, John Adams brought 'Licensing Regulation' which required every printer and publisher to obtain a license for establishing a press. The licensing Act of 1857 prohibited keeping or using printing presses without a license from the Government.
The Vernacular Press Act, 1878 was designed to control the Vernacular Press. It aimed at punishing and repressing seditious writings. Under the act, Any Indian publisher may be called upon by the District Magistrate to enter into a bond undertaking that the published articles would not cause any disaffection to the government.
The decision of the Magistrate was made final, and no appeal could be made in the court of the law. The Indian Press Act of 1931, gave wide ranging powers to the provisional government to supress any publication that undermined the governments authority.
However, inspite of all these restrictions, Indian press played a significant role in the national struggle. The editors often came up with innovative and clever wordplay to circumvent the disabilities imposed by the British.
The regulations by the British to curb the freedom of press were a major hit on the civil liberties. It was started with the Censorship of Press Act of 1799, which imposed war time Press restrictions including that of pre-censorship.
It was followed by the Licensing Regulations of 1823, which made the starting of a press without license a penal offence.
In 1828, John Adams brought 'Licensing Regulation' which required every printer and publisher to obtain a license for establishing a press. The licensing Act of 1857 prohibited keeping or using printing presses without a license from the Government.
The Vernacular Press Act, 1878 was designed to control the Vernacular Press. It aimed at punishing and repressing seditious writings. Under the act, Any Indian publisher may be called upon by the District Magistrate to enter into a bond undertaking that the published articles would not cause any disaffection to the government.
The decision of the Magistrate was made final, and no appeal could be made in the court of the law. The Indian Press Act of 1931, gave wide ranging powers to the provisional government to supress any publication that undermined the governments authority.
However, inspite of all these restrictions, Indian press played a significant role in the national struggle. The editors often came up with innovative and clever wordplay to circumvent the disabilities imposed by the British.