With reference to Press Act of 1910 consider the following statements 1 Printing presses had to depo...........

Modern Indian History 1905-1920

With reference to Press Act of 1910, consider the following statements:

1. Printing-presses had to deposit a security amount with the local government.

2. It covered vernacular newspapers and books.

3. The Magistrate was given full discretion and there was no provision for appeal against his action on printing-presses.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

1 and 2 only

3 only

1, 2 and 3

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Explanation:

The British enacted four new measures between 1908 and 1912 — the Newspapers (Incitement to Offences) Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1908, the Press Act of 1910 and the Prevention of Seditious Meetings Act of 1911. The aim was to curb press freedom and stop the dissemination of information which could be detrimental to colonial interests.
Statement 1 is correct because the Press Act of 1910 empowered the local government to demand a security fee for any ‘offensive content’ against the government. It provided for the suppression of seditious or objectionable newspapers, books or other documents. Every person keeping a printing press, shall at the time of making the same, deposit with the Magistrate before whom the declaration is made security to such an amount, not being less than five hundred or more than two thousand rupees, as the Magistrate may in each case think fit to require, in money or the equivalent thereof in securities of the Government of India Nearly 1,000 papers were prosecuted under the Act.
Statement 2 is correct because it covered-books, newspapers and also every volume part or division of a volume, and pamphlet, in any language, and every sheet of music, map, chart or plan separately printed or lithographed. Even any painting, drawing or photograph or other visible representation was covered. The British were cautious to avoid repetition of the situation when Amrita Bazar Patrika overnight changed into an English language newspaper in order to avoid the stringent Vernacular Press Act 1878.
Statement 3 is not correct because the appeals against the orders and actions lied before High Courts. Also, Every High Court was to frame rules to regulate the procedure in the case of such applications, the amount of the cost thereof and the execution of orders passed thereon. The Bill also provided for the provision of application, within two months of the date of declaration of forfeiture, to a special bench of three Judges of the High Court, on the question of fact whether the matter directed to is or is not of the prohibited description of the material defined in the Bill. If the High Court finds that it is not of that description, it must cancel the order of forfeiture