'Stakeholders’ views included in press law'
The government on Friday said it had consulted all the stakeholders, including the Indian Newspaper Society, and has incorporated ''suitable suggestions'' made by them before the Union Cabinet cleared a bill on registration of books and publications.
In a statement, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has said the “graded” penalty proposed in the draft bill has been removed and the provision of six months imprisonment for violations in the existing Act “liberalised” by substituting it with suspension of publication for a period of 30 days.
“INS has made certain observations that the proposed Bill was cleared without any proper consultation, and that it contains a section providing penalty which is draconian,” it noted.
“Comments received from various stakeholders were examined by the ministry in consultation with RNI and suitable suggestions were incorporated in the draft amendments to the PRB Act, 1867,” it added.
