"Suspension of publication, restriction on registration of names similar to foreign titles are bound to have far reaching adverse consequences on the Indian print media," said INS president Kundan Vyas, asserting that any provision to cause disruption of a publication had no place in democracy.
The INS is particularly upset with the "penalty" provisions of suspending a publication for 30 and 60 days respectively for first and second offences and cancellation of registration and even imprisonment. Vyas pointed out that the punishments are prescribed
for several technical violations.
"Suspension of a publication is too wide a power to be granted to a magistrate or even the press registrar," he added.
PTI adds: Vyas urged Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni to take a serious view on concerns of the industry and initiate consultations with the industry before the bill is placed in Parliament.
A comprehensive bill to replace the age-old law relating to print media that will cover internet edition of newspapers and include provisions on limits on foreign news content and investment was approved by the Union Cabinet on Thursday.
At the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Cabinet decided to amend the 1867 Press and Registration
of Books Act to streamline the age-old processes pertaining to the print media policy.
