The Press And Registration Of Periodicals Bill, 2023

On December 21, 2023, the Lok Sabha passed the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 ("PRP Bill"), revoking the colonial-era legislation of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 ("PRB Act").

The PRB Act was designed to regulate the printing presses and newspapers and imposed strict penalties, including imprisonment, for non-compliance with its provisions. The procedures outlined in the PRB Act were intricate and burdensome, causing undue difficulties to publishers for running a newspaper. The PRB Act required the involvement of various offices at both the State and Central Government levels, leading to delays and obstacles in the process. The elaborate steps, including submitting a declaration to the designated Authority, authenticating it, and subsequently applying to the Press Registrar for title verification and certification, were burdensome and time-consuming. It was noted that due to the aforementioned complex procedures, there is