The Himachal Pradesh Suppression of Indecent Advertisements Act, 1973

THE HIMACHAL PRADESH SUPPRESSION OF INDECENT 
ADVERTISEMENTS ACT, 1973 
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
Sections: 
1. Short title, extent and commencement. 
2. Interpretation. 
3. Proceedings against persons affixing etc., indecent pictures, or 
written matter. 
4. Proceedings against persons sending others to do the acts 
punishable under section 3. 
5. Power to seize, remove, deface or destroy pictures or printed or 
written matter of an indecent nature. 
6. Police Officer may arrest on view of offence. 
7. Exemption. 
8. Repeal and savings. 
THE HIMACHAL PRADESH SUPPRESSION OF INDECENT 
ADVERTISEMENTS ACT, 1973 
(ACT No. 5 of 1974)1 
(Received the assent of the Governor, on the 19th January, 1974, and 
was published in R.H.P. Extra., dated the 2nd Feb., 1974 at 119-122). 
An Act to suppress indecent advertisements. 
BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh in 
the Twenty-fourth Year of the Republic of India as follows:- 
1. Short title, extent and commencement.- (1) This Act may be 
called the Himachal Pradesh Suppression of Indecent Advertisements Act, 
1973. 
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Himachal Pradesh. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Interpretation.- For the purpose of this Act any advertisement 
relating syphilis, gonorrhoea, nervous, debility or other complaint or infirmity 
arising from or relating to sexual intercourse shall be deemed to be printed or 
written matter of an indecent nature. 
3. Proceedings against persons affixing etc. indecent pictures, or 
printed or written matter.- (i) Whosoever affixes to, inscribes or stencils on 
any house, building, wall, boarding, gate, fence, pillar, post, board, tree, or 
any other thing whatsoever so as to be visible to a person being or in passing 
                                                      
1 For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see R.H.P. Extra., dated 28-4-1973, p. 643. 
along any street, public highway or foot-path, and whoever affixes to, 
inscribes or stencils on any public latrine or urinal, or exhibits to public view 
on the cinema screen or in the window of any house or shop, any picture or 
printed or written matter which is of indecent nature, shall, on conviction, be 
punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may 
extend to 6 months or with fine which may extend to 500 rupees, or with both 
such imprisonment and fine. 
2. Whenever any printed or written matter of an indecent nature has 
been displayed in the manner prohibited by sub-section (1), any person being 
in possession or control of the land, building, structure or premises to which 
such printed or written matter has been affixed who knowingly allows the 
same to be continued to be displayed, shall, on conviction, be punished with 
imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend 
to 500 rupees, or with both such imprisonment and fine. 
4. Proceedings against persons sending other to do the acts 
punishable under section 3.- Whoever giver or delivers to any other person 
any such pictures, or printed or written matter mentioned in section 3 with the 
intent that the same, some one or more thereof, should be affixed, inscribed, 
stenciled, or exhibited as therein mentioned, shall, on conviction, be punished 
with imprisonment of either description which may extend to one year or with 
fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both such 
imprisonment and fine. 
5. Power to seize, remove, deface or destroy pictures or printed or 
written matter of an indecent nature.- If a District Magistrate, Sub-
Divisional Magistrate or Magistrate of the First Class has reason to believe 
that any picture or printed or written matter of an indecent nature which has 
been affixed, inscribed or stenciled as mentioned in section 3, continues to be 
exhibited to public view after the commencement of this Act, he may by order 
in writing authorise any police officer to enter, with such assistance as may be 
required, any place and seize, remove, deface or destroy any such picture or 
printed or written matter. 
6. Police officer may arrest on view of offence.- Any police officer 
may arrest without warrant any persons whom he shall find committing any 
offence against this Act. 
7. Exemption.- Nothing in this Act shall apply to any advertisement 
published by any municipal corporation or by any municipal, small town or 
notified area committee or published with the sanction of the State 
Government. 
8. Repeal and savings.- The Punjab Suppression of Indecent 
Advertisements Act, 1941 (7 of 1941) as in force in the areas added to 
Himachal Pradesh under section 5 of the Punjab Re-organisation Act, 1966,, 
(31 of 1966) is hereby repealed: 
 Provided that anything done or any action taken (including any 
notification issued, permission granted or proceedings commenced or 
continued) under the provisions of the said Act, shall be deemed to have been 
done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act. 
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