1. Introduction: It was
found necessary to establish a system of compulsory sale to Government, of
three copies of each work in India. To achieve this purpose a Bill was
introduced in the Legislature for the regulation of printing presses and
newspaper for the preservation of copies of books and periodicals containing
news printed in the whole of India and for the registration of such books and
periodicals containing news.
2. The Press and Registration of Books Act (1867): The Press and
Registration of Books Act (PRBA) was passed by the Legislature for the British
India and it came on the statute book as the Press and Registration of Books
Act, 1867 (25 of 1867). The nomenclature of the Act has been given by the
Indian Short Titles Act, 1897 (14 of 1897). PRBA provides compulsory deposit of
one copy to state governments.
3. Penalty: Whoever
shall print or publish any book or paper otherwise than in conformity with the
rule contained in section 3 of the PRB Act, shall, on conviction before a
Magistrate, be punished by fine not exceeding two thousand rupees, or by simple
imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or by both.
4. Registrar of Newspapers for India: Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) is a statutory
body of Government of India for newspapers in India. It was established on 1
July 1956, on the recommendation of the First Press Commission in 1953 and by
amending the Press and Registration of Books Act 1867. The Office of the Registrar of Newspapers for India is
headquartered in New Delhi, and has three regional offices at Kolkata, Mumbai
and Chennai. RNI regulates and monitors printing and publication of newspapers
based on the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 and the Registration of
Newspapers (Central) Rules, 1956.
5. State Intake on PRBA: The PRB Act is enforced by state government. PRBA
provides compulsory deposit of one copy to state governments. The number of
copies can be increased by state government in public library acts. Under this
PRB Act, the state government can get 3-5 copies of each publication.
The
amendment in PRBA has been made in Tamilnadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Manipur
and Bihar to increase number of copies for submission. Other Public Library
Acts (PLA) have not amended in it and require only 1 copy as per PRB Act, 1867.
6. Conclusion: The Press
and Registration of Books Act was for the regulation of printing-presses and
newspapers for the preservation of copies of books and newspapers printed in
India and for the registration of such books and newspapers. It helped some specific libraries to get some copies of
books free of cost and to maintain a continuous catalogue of early printed
books in the country. In terms of this Act, the publisher or the printer of
every book or newspaper was to send a copy of the book or newspaper to the
Secretary of state for India, another copy to the Governor General in
Council and still another to the local government.
How to Cite this
Article?
APA Citation, 7th Ed.: Barman, B. (2020). A comprehensive book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications.
Chicago 16th Ed.: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. Guwahati:
New Publications, 2020.
MLA Citation 8th Ed: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications, 2020.

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