West Bengal Legislative Assembly Proceedings (Protection of Publication) Act, 1978

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

1st March, 1979

West Bengal Act LXIV of 1978
THE WEST BENGAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS (PROTECTION OF PUBLICATION) ACT, 1978.

An Act to protect the publication of the reports of proceedings of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

Whereas it is proper to protect the publication of the reports of proceedings of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly;

It is hereby enacted in the Twenty-ninth Year of the Republic of India, by the Legislature of West Bengal, as follows:-

1. Short title, extent and commencement.

(1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Proceedings (Protection of Publication) Act, 1978.

(2) It extends to the whole of West Bengal.

(3) It shall come into force at once.

2. Definition.

In this Act, “newspaper” means any printed periodical work containing public news or comments on public news and includes news-agency supplying material for publication in a newspaper.

3. Privilege in respect of publication of reports of Assembly proceedings.

(1) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (2), no person shall be liable to any proceedings, civil or criminal, in any court in respect of publication in a newspaper of a substantially true report of any proceedings of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, unless the publication is proved to have been made with malice.

(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall be construed as protecting the publication of any matter which is not for the public good.

4. Act also to apply to proceedings broadcast by wireless telegraphy.

The Act shall also apply in relation to reports or matters broadcast by means of wireless telegraphy as part of any programme or service provided by means of a broadcasting station as it applies in relation to reports or matters published in a newspaper.