West Bengal Act XXXM of 1954'
THE WEST BENGAL CINJIMAS
(REGULATION) ACT, 1954.
Bvn, Act W nr 1866. Bun. Acr 11 or 1866. Wesl Ben. Act XVll 01 1957. Wesl Ben. Act XUI of 1958. West Bcn. Act XIII of 1965. West Bcn. Acl n V I of 1976. West Ben. Act XVII of 1989. W e s ~ Ben. Act XIV of 1992. Att A d to provide for the regtilation of cir~et~~as in West Betrgal.
'
WHERWS it is expedient lo provide for the regulation of cinemas in Wcst Bcngal;
It is hercby cnactcd in ~ h c Firth Ycar of h e Republic of India, by thc
Legislalurc of Wcsl Bcngal. as follows:-
1. (1) This Ac~may bccallcdrhc Wes~Bengal Cinemas (Regulation) shon titic. Act, 1954. cxrent and colnrncnce-
(2) I t extends lo h e whole of Wcsl Bcngal. men!.
, (3) It shalI comc inlo forcez on such date as the Sla~e Governmen1 may, by nolification in thc Oflciol Gazetre, appoinl.
2. In lhis Acl, unlcss therc is anyhing repugnant in the subjec~ or Definitions.
conlcx1,- -'(al) "Bcngali film" means a film cercifizd to be in Bengali language for public exhibition under any law for the time
being in forcc;
(a) "Calcurta" mcans rhc town of Calcutta as defined in h e
Calcurta Police Acl, 1866, rogeher with the suburhs of
Calcutta as defined by nolification undcr section 1 of the Calcurla Suburban Police ACI, 1866;
(b) "cinematogmph"jncludes any apparh~us for h e represenlation of moving pictures or scrics oipiclures;
'For Starcnlcnl of Objccls mrl Reasons, see Ihc C o l c ~ i f ~ ~ Guzelre, E~fruordirruq~, dated tl1c20111 Augui.r. 1956. PM IVA, pngc 1 168; lorproceedings of the West Bengal Legislarive Asscmbly,sce~hepruccfdingso~thc meetingsorthe Wcsr BcngdLcgislalivc Assembly held on thc 13th and 141h Scpkcrnbcr, 1951: and lor procwdmgs olhc Wcst Bcngd Legislative
Council, s e t h c pmecdings of h c nlccling of thc Wesc Bengd Legislarivc Council hcld on thc 2Olh Septembrr, 1954.
This Act wzsbrough~intolorcc withclfcccfmmthe IsiFebruuy, 1955,r.irleNoulication No. 580P.. dmed [he 20h Jmunry. 1955. publishcd in the Cabtrta Gazerre, firraordinar)., dated the 20th Jmunry, 1955. Pm I , pagc 45.
'Clause(a1) wsinsrdcd b e , 2(a)o~~hc\Yes~BmgdCmcm(Rcgulmion)(Amcndment) hr l I O V O t ~ t ! ~ ~ . n-.. a,., VIITT ..r vnon,
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Licrnsinp authority. Rtsrrictions on powc~s of liccnsing authorily. h p p c ~ ! and
Revision.
The West Ber~gal Citlenzas (Regulaliorr) Act, 1954. [West Den. Act
(c) "Disrrict Magistrale" includes a Depu~y Commissioner and rncans, in rclnlion lo Calcutta, the Commissioncr of Policc, Calcutta;
'(cc) "film" means a cincma!ograph film;
Id) "place" jncludcs a housc, building, rcn!, enclosure, open
spacc and any dcscriprion of Iransporl, whethcr by land,
WillCr or air;
(c) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules madc under this Act;
(0 "a pubIic exhibition" means an exlubilion to wluch pcrsons
are admiltcd on paymcnt.
3. ( 1 ) Savc as orherwisc provided in this Act, no person shall givc
a public exhibition by means of a cinematograph elscwhcre d ~ a n in a placc
in rcspect of which a liccnce has bccn granted under this Act or olhcwise tllun in compljancc with any uondiuons or resrrictions imposed by such liccnce.
(2) Thc Srate Governmeol may, if i t considers il necessary to do so,
make an ordcr Tor regulating exhibi~ions orher [him public exhibitions and prescribe ?rules and conditions ror the purposc.
4. The auihori ty having power lo grant liccnces (hercinafier referrcd io as the Iicensing authority) shall be thc District Magislnte wilhin whosc
jurisdiction [he place, whcrc the exhibitions by rncans of cinemalogaph arc proposcd to be givcn, is diua~ed:
Provided fiar the Sla!cGovernment may, by notification in h e Oficiar Cazetfe, consliiutc for the whole of Wsl Bengal or any part thereof, such olhcr aulhori~y as i~ may spccify in the norifica~on, to be h e licensing auhoriiy far [he purposes of h i s Acr and on such a notilicalion being issucd, [he Diswict Magis!mteorheDisrric~Ma~suates havingjurisdiclion jrt Lht areaor arcas in respcct of which thenotificaliqn has been issucdsl~all ccase lo be the licensing authority or authorities for such area or areas.
5. (1) The liccnsing aurhority shall not grant a licence undcr I his Aci. unless it is satisfied ha[-
(a) therulcsmadeunderIhisAc~havebeensubs~anriallycornpl~ed
with, and
'Clause(cc) was inxncd by 5.2(b) ord1r:iYcsi Bcngd Cinc11~5(Regul~ion)(Amcnd1mn1) Act: 1989 (IVcsr Bm. Acl XVll of 1989).
-For r hc ordcr-
(a) made undcr s. 3 oithc Acr for rcgularing cxhibitioos orher lhan public eshibi~ions and rhc pscr ip~ion of rules and condilions for the purposc. rcr ~ h c Bengd Cinemalognph (Rcgulaljon of Special Enhibiuon) Order, 1956, publishcd by Order No. 6130P.. daied rhc 10th Augus~. 1956, in rho Culculrn Crt:e~fe. E~~mnrrlirmv. dalcd hc I(hli August, 1956, Pm 1-pages 1973- 1976, as subsrqurntly m n d z d :
{h) rmdc under s. 3 read with s. 4 of the Acr, called thc Wesr Bcngd Cincmalwgnph (Rcgularion of Privare Eshibiiion) Ordcr. 1958. see Ordcr No. S92UP,, dated 19.7.58, publishcd in thc Calcrr~tu Gnzc~fe, Errrar~rJitraq of 1958, F a I,
(IaEes 2582-2584.
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(b) the prescribed precautions have becn taken in rhc placc, in
respcct of which the licence is lo be givcn, to provide for the
safely of perspns artending exhibitions thercin:
Providcd [hat he licensing authority shall, bcrorc rcfusing to gram a liccncc under this Acl, give the applicant an opporr unily of showing cause.
(2) Subject to [he conuol of rhc Sratc Govcrnmcnl, the licensing
authorjly may grant liccnccs, undcr hc provisions ofthis Act and the rules made thereunder, to such pcrsons as h a [ aulhority thinks fi! and on such lenns and condirions and subjcut ID such rcstriclions as it may derermine
I * * + * *
(3) Thc Stnlc Government may, from time ro lime. issuc directions ro licensees generally or, i f in the opinion of thc State Govcrnmcnl circumstances s o justify, lo any liccnsce in parlicular, for the purpose of regulating [he exhibilion of any film or c l s s of films and in parlicular the exhibition of scientific films, films intcndcd for cducnrional purposes,
fjl~ns dealing rvirh news and currcnr cvcnts, documcnlary films or films produced in Indin, and whcrc any such dirccdons have been issued, those d i redons sl~all be deemed to be additional condilions and reslricljons subjecr lo which thc liccncc has bccn granrcd.
?(3A) Tllc Slare Govcmmcnt may, from limc lo timc, prescribe guidelines for fixation oFpriccs of admission lo placcs of public exhibj tion of cincmulograph films and for classification of sears in such places by liccnsces, and it shall be obligatory for licensees to comply w i h sucll guidclincs.
(4) (a) Any person aggricvcd by an ordcr of a liccnsing aulhorjly grimling or rcrusing lo granl a liccncc'[or by any olhcr ordcr of a licerising authority which is dcclared by rulcs madc undcr this Act lo bc appralablel
or by thc rcrms and conditions on which or the res~rictions ubject 10 which a liccncc is granrcd, may. within such lime as may be preseribed, appeal-
li) where [he licensing aurhority is rhe Disrrict Magismarc of any disrrict,-ro rhe Commissioner of Ihc Division comprising such disuict,
lii) where the licensing authoriry is the Commissioncr of Policc, Cnlcu tta,--to ~ h c Commissioncr of thc Prcsidcncy Division in Wcst Bcngal, and
(iii) in any olher case,-to such aurhori~y as he Stale
Government may, by notiiicauon in rheO#icialGazette,
specify in dus behalf; 'The words "and h e rcmsmd conditions laid d a w n s h ~ l l includt [he prescribingolsuch
priccs oFadnlission m rhc lkcnsing auilioriiy m y dctcnninc" wcn: orn i~~cd by s, l ( o ) of the
Wcsr B e n ~ d Cincmas (Rcgulalion) (Arncndrncnt) Act, 1992 (Wcs( Bcn, Acr XIV of 1992).
'Sub-srclion (3A) was firs1 insened by s. 3 ofthe %Vest Bengd Cinemas (Rcgulation) (Alucndlncnl) Acr, 1989 (Wcs~ Bcn, ACI XVII of 1989). b i c r . thc s m c was subsrirured by s. 7(b) or !hc WCSI Bcngal Cinernx (Rcgulalion) (Alncndmeni) ACI. 1991 (Wcsl Bcn. Acr XlV or 11911 wirhin the square bncke~s.
'Thwc words wi~hin ihc square bnckcrs were insened by s. ?(I) of ~ h c Wcs~ Bcnpal '
r:,,,bmqL- ( v . . - ~ J ~ I ; ~ - \ / A - , . - , I ~ , . ~ I ~ A,., !a&< I I I ~ ~ ~ ~ R , . ~ A", VTII J I O A ~ )
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Powcr of
. S I P ~ C Govcmmcn~ ar District Macisnlc to suspcnd cxhibilion or films in
urnain czes. The Wesr Betrgal Cirrr~~ras (Regrrlatiorr) Acr. 1953. [Wcst Ben, Act
(b) State Govemmcnt ]nay,- I * * * * * *
( i i ) of its own moljon at any time revise,-
any order passed onappeal under clausela), or any order
of a licensing authority '[from which an appeal lies under clausc (a), but from which no appeal has been
preferred] ;
(c) no ordcr shall bc. madc on such revisian whhaul giving J[the licenscc] an opportunity of bcing hcud;
'l(d) (i) an appclIarcaulhority whilchearing appcal under clause
(a), or h c Shle govern men^ while revising an order under clause (b), may, by ordcr, prohibit any action being tdctt 011 heorder under appcal or, as1 hecase may
be, underrevision,orstay the considerarion of any other application in connec~ion with the grant of a liccnce undcr this Act or may pass such other intcrloculory
. ordcr i t may think just and convenient;
(ii) no ordcr under thisclause shall be madc without giving all persons Iikcly 10 bc nffcc\ed by such ordcr an opponuniry of being heard: -
Providcd tha~ where hc circums~nccs ofa case are such lhat ~mmcdialc action is ncccssary, an oppellarc authorily or, as the case may be, thc Slate Govcrnrnenl may make any such onler under this clause as i t thinks
fil, wirh noticc to all persons affected lo show cause againslsuch ordcr and may aTlcr considering h e cause, if any, shown by such pcrsons,citherconfinn suchorder nr vary or set i~ aside.
6. ( 1 ) Tlic State govern men^ in respect ofthe whole of Wcsc Bengal or any p a l ~hercof, and a Dislric~ Magistrare in respccr 01 [he arca wilhin his jurisdiction, may, if it or hc is ofopinion h a t any film which is being
publicly cxhibircd or is nbou t 10 be so exhibi~cd islikcly ro causc a breach
of Lhc peacc, by ordcr, suspend or prohibit the exhibilion af [he film and during such suspension or prohibiuan the fiIm shall not be cxhibired in the Slalc, or in such pnrt thcrcof or in such areil;as the c z c may bc. 'Sub-cIau
[Rrgulorion) (Amzndmcnt) Act, 1976 (Wcsl Ben. A a XLVI of 1976). !Thew words wilhin Ihe s q m bnckcls wcrc substitu(cd Tor thc words "granling or rc~~~sing~ogr~nl~licenccordctemriningthcrcrrns wldcondi~iom on which or rhercslriclion subject to which a l i c c n ~ ~ is gnnlrd, whcn: no appcal has bccn prefcmd undcr clause (a) from such ordcr" by s. 212) o r ~hc West Bcngd Cioclnv (Rcgul~tion) [Alntndmcn!) Acr. 1965 (Wesr Bcn. Act XI11 01 1965).
The w o k within the square bnckek wcn: subsliruied lor the words 'lbc applimr or lhc licenxc, a Ihe FSI: may W , by 3. 2(b) oflhc WCSI Rengnl Cincmx (Rcgulmion) (Ammdmncnl) Acr. 1976 (West Bcn. Acr XLVI 01 1976).
'Clause (d) was added bys.2(3)ollhe WCSI Bcngal Cincmm (Regula~ion)(hndment) Act, 1965 (Wesi Ben. Acr XI11 or t965).
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The West Bet~gal Cirrettlas (Reglr lariorr) Act, 1954. XXXIX of 1954.1
(Sections 7-9.)
E (2) Where an orderundcrsub-secdon (1) has been issued by a Dislricr
Magisrrare, a copy lhercor, togcrher with a slatemcnt of h e reasons
~hcrefor, shall f adwi th be fonvardcd by d ~ e Dis~ricl Magismate to thc
Commissioner of theDivision comprising thedistrict under hejurisdic~ion
of the Dislricr Magisuale and such Commissioner may eirher confm or discharge the ordcr:
Provided h a t before confirming any such ordcr, such Comniissioner
shall givc ro persons prcvenlcd from exhibi~ing rhc film, an opponunicy of
showing cause against such order,
(3) An order made under this section shall remain in force for a period
of two monlhs from the date [hereof, but the S tare Government may, in the
casc of an order madc by itsejf, and he Commissioner may, i n the case of
an order made by a Djsrrict Magistrale and confirrncd by him, if it or hc i s
of opinion that tllc order should conljnue in force, direcl thal the period of suspension or prohibition shall bc cxrended by such furiher periad or perids as it or he rhinks fit .
7. If thc owner or person in charge of a cine~natograph uses the same or allows i r lo be used for giving an exhibition, or if the owner or occupier of any place permils lhat place to be uscd, in conmvcnuon of
the provisions of this Acr or of the rules made thereunder, or of the condilions and resuiclions Upon or subject 10 which any licence has been granted undcr lhis Act, he shall be punishable wirh fine which may extend to one thousand rupces and, in h e case of a continuing offence,
with a funher fine which may exlend to one hundred rupees for cach day duriog which he olfcncc continues.
8. Where the hoIdcr of a licence undcr chis Act has been convicled
xxxvIlof or an offence under scclion 7 OF (he Cinemalograph Act, 1952, or
1951. scclion 7 of [his Act, h c Iicence niay be revoked by the licensing authority.
Pcnd~ies lor cu[LLT;1ven- -
tion ofrhc Act.
Power to revokc licencc.
9. ( I ) The Srate Government may, by noufication in the Oficial Powcrto Gazerte. make rules1 for fie purpose of carrying into effcci the provisionsde rules.
of h i s Acr.
(2) In parlicularand wj thou~prejudicc~orhegenerality ofLhe Foregoing
power, rules made under [his Act may provide for-
(a) the procedure in accordance with which a licence may be
obtained and the lerrns, conditions and restrictions, iF any,
. subjecl to which a licence may be granted under (his Act; 'Forihc rules, +led tk Wesl Bcngd Cine- (Regulation of PublicExhibitions) Rulcs. 1956, m d e in exerclse o f h c powcr,mnferrrd by this scccion.see Notilicalion No. 6129P.. dakd Ihe 10th August. 1956. published in the Glcurra Gazerre, E r r r m r d i n u ~ . of rhesme A l l - D,- 1 nlnrr lOdO. lI177 7~ ~ ~ ~ h r r n i r r n f l v nmnr l r r l rrnm rime tn timr
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lWcst Ben. Act
(b) 1hc regularion of c inernatograph exhibilions for securing public safely;
(c) thclirnc wiihin which and h e conditionssubject ro which, an appeal undcr clause (a) of subsec~ion (4) of section 5 or an application to thc State Governmcnl for revision undcr sub- clause (i) of clause ( b ) of thal sub-seclion mq be made; ,
(d) thc proccdurc for appeals nndrcvisions under sub-scclion (4) of secrion 5 ;
( c ) thc pnynicnr of fees Cor a Iicence undcr this Acl or for o renewal of such licencc or Zor an appeaI under clause (a) of , sub-sec~ion (4) of stclion 5 I * * * * * Power to 10. Tllc Statc Government may, by order in wiring. ?cxcrnpt, subject csc\np\. ro such condirions and resuictions as i~ may impose, any cinemalograph exhibirion orcl~safcinema~ogr~phcxhibiuor~sfron~ any of~heprovisions of this Act or of any rules madc thereunder.
P ~ ~ ~ c ~ i o n 0s 11. No suit or proceeding stioH Gc oginst the Sla~e Government and SIaIc
c , , ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ no suit, proscc~don orproceedingshall lieagains~any oificeroCGovernment a d of for anything in good f a i ~ donc, or inlendcd \o be bone, under \his Act or
officrn of Gr,vcmmcnr any rules made Lhcrer~ndcr.
for ac\s done in pcd
faith. Validation -12. Any Ttcs rcalised or p u ~ porred lo have been realised in rcspecl of orrccs
already licences or renewals rhcreof granrcd under the Cinemalograph Act, 19 IS', 11 or 191s. i d . shall be dccmed 10 havc always bccn validly realiscd.
Rc.va[. 13. So much of ihe Cinematograph Act, 1918? as applies lo Wcst
Bengal, is llcreby rcpealcd. Tnnsi~ional "4.' Norwiths~anding inything contained in any other law or in [his provis~ow.
Act or in ~ h c mlcs made undcr this Acc or in thc licence,-
(a) n liccnce which was gmnicd orpurports to have bccn grunted,
under the Cincmatograph ACL, 19 18, or
(b) a liccnce which was granted undcr thar Act and purporb ro have been rcnewcd undcr this ACL but in thc form provided under that Act, or
- -
'The wonls. bmckerr. figurc a d lcrtcr "or lor im applica~ion Iar rcvicion ~ ~ n d r r sub- clawc(i) oiclausc (8 ) or r h t sub-section" wcn: ornitid by s. 3 of h c We51 Bcngd Cinerm (Rcguhrion) (Amcndmcnt) An, 1976 (Wesr Bcn. Aa X U 1 a 1 1976). 'For Ordcr excmpring iromrhcprovisisns oFrhc Act all cinzmrognpl~ exhibitions held by Ihc Mobilc Audio-Visual Units rninlained and 5ponsorcd by [his G o v c m ~ ~ n l , w e Nnlificalian No. 95?0P., d a d 19.1 1.58. gublislcrl i n ~ h c CulculIu Guzcrre or 1958, Psrll.
PJgC 3hW. 'The Cinc~~iatognph Acr, 1918 (I1 or lgI%), was repealed md rc-enacrcd by rhc
Cinctmognph Act, 1952{XXXVLI of 1952). 'Secllon 14 wns insrned with rermrprrive eKcc\ by s. 2 of rlic Wcsr Bcngd Cincnias (Rcculxrion) (Amendmenl) Arr 1457 rlV*rr An- A -. vlplt -r Inr?.
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Tile Wesr Betgal Cir~errras (RegrrIatiorl) Act 1954. XXXLX of 1Y54.1
(c) a licence which purports to have been gantcd undcr this Act, but in the form provided under that Act, shall bedeemed, ior all purposes, lo havc becn grantcd under rhjs Act and tbc conditions and rcstric[ions prcscribd by the rules under this Acl shall, until 3 new Iicencc is granlcd under Itds Act and the rules made thereunder. be dccmed ro havc bccn incorponred in such licence:
Provided that the licensing authority may granl time, or exlcnd [he lime so granted, for compliance wih any such condition or restriction.
'15. Norwilhslanding anything contained in any othcr lhw or in h i s Tmiliond Act or in the rules made undcr this Act or in thc liccnsc, a liccnse granled ~~~~~~!s or renewed under the Bihar Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1954 shall be undcr Bihar dccrned for all purposes to have been granted or revewcd under h i s Act and [he co~ldilions and restrictions prescribed by the rubs undcr this Act shall, unril a new license is grilntcd undcr this Act, bc dccmcd lo have been incorponred in such liccnsc:
Providcd thal [he licensingauthorj ty may granltime, orcxrcnd the lime so granted, for compliance with any such condition or rcswiction. 'This Acr wxi clrlended lo the m s f e m d terrirories wirh effecl Irnm rhc 1st July. 1959, subjcc~ lo ~ h c addition of seclion 15 to rhe said Acr ride s. 3(1) of ~ h c Wcn Bcngd TmTcmd Tcrri~orics (Assimilarion of b w s ) Acr, 19.58 ( l e s t Ben. Act XlX ol1958).
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