LexThe west bengal cinemas (regulation) act, 1954
West Bengal · state statute
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this actWest 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 nVI of 1976.
West Ben. Act XVII of 1989.
Wes~ Ben. Act XIV of 1992.
Att Ad 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 ~hc Firth Ycar of he 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) It extends lo he 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 he
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 he represenlation
of moving pictures or scrics oipiclures;
'For Starcnlcnl of Objccls mrl Reasons, see Ihc Colc~if~~ 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, set hc pmecdings of hc 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 be, 2(a)o~~hc\Yes~BmgdCmcm(Rcgulmion)(Amcndment)
hrl IOVO t~t!~~. n-.. a,., VIITT ..r vnon,
Licrnsinp
authority.
Rtsrrictions
on powc~s of
liccnsing
authorily.
hppc~! 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~an 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 it 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 he 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 he licensing
auhoriiy far [he purposes of his 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 pscrip~ion of rules and condilions for the purposc. rcr ~hc 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
mndzd:
{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, Fa I,
(IaEes 2582-2584.
(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 ha[ 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, if in the opinion of thc State Govcrnmcnl
circumstances so justify, lo any liccnsce in parlicular, for the purpose of
regulating [he exhibilion of any film or clss 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
diredons 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 wih 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 subject 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 ~hc 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 he rcmsmd conditions laid dawnsh~ll includt [he prescribingolsuch
priccs oFadnlission m rhc lkcnsing auilioriiy my dctcnninc" wcn: orni~~cd by s, l(o) of the
Wcsr Ben~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). bicr. thc smc 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 ~hc Wcs~ Bcnpal
'
r:,,,bmqL- (v..-~J~I;~-\ /A -,.-,I~,.~I~ A,., !a&< III~~~~ R,.~ A", VTII J IOA~)
Powcr of
.SIP~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******
(ii) 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 hc 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 it 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 it thinks
fil, wirh noticc to all persons affected lo show cause
againslsuch ordcr and may aTlcr considering he 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 pal ~hercof, and a Dislric~ Magistrare in respccr 01 [he arca wilhin
his jurisdiction, may, if it or hc is ofopinion hat 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 czc may bc.
'Sub-cIau<e (i) or clausc (b] was omilrcd by s. 2(a) uI the Wesr Bcngal Cincnisr
[Rrgulorion) (Amzndmcnt) Act, 1976 (Wcsl Ben. Aa XLVI of 1976).
!Thew words wilhin Ihe sqm bnckcls wcrc substitu(cd Tor thc words "granling or
rc~~~sing~ogr~nl~licenccordctemriningthcrcrrns wldcondi~iom on which or rhercslriclion
subject to which a liccn~~ is gnnlrd, whcn: no appcal has bccn prefcmd undcr clause (a)
from such ordcr" by s. 212) or ~hc West Bcngd Cioclnv (Rcgul~tion) [Alntndmcn!) Acr.
1965 (Wesr Bcn. Act XI11 01 1965).
The wok 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).
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 he reasons
~hcrefor, shall fadwith 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 hat 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, in the case of
an order made by a Djsrrict Magistrale and confirrncd by him, if it or hc is
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 ir 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 he 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, hc 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 provisions de rules.
of his 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, mde in exerclse ofhc powcr,mnferrrd by this scccion.see Notilicalion No. 6129P..
dakd Ihe 10th August. 1956. published in the Glcurra Gazerre, Errrmrdinu~. of rhesme
All- D,- 1 nlnrr lOdO.lI177 7~ ~~~hrrnirrnflv nmnrlrrl rrnm rime tn timr
lWcst Ben. Act
(b) 1hc regularion of c inernatograph exhibilions for securing
public safely;
(c) thclirnc wiihin which and he 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~ion 0s 11. No suit or proceeding stioH Gc oginst the Sla~e Government and
SIaIc
c,,~~~~~~~~ no suit, proscc~don orproceedingshall lieagains~any oificeroCGovernment
ad of for anything in good fai~ 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 pu~ porred lo have been realised in rcspecl of
orrccs
already licences or renewals rhcreof granrcd under the Cinemalograph Act, 19 IS', 11 or 191s.
id. 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 ~hc 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 ad lcrtcr "or lor im applica~ion Iar rcvicion ~~ndrr sub-
clawc(i) oiclausc (8) or rht sub-section" wcn: ornitid by s. 3 of hc We51 Bcngd Cinerm
(Rcguhrion) (Amcndmcnt) An, 1976 (Wesr Bcn. Aa XU1 a1 1976).
'For Ordcr excmpring iromrhcprovisisns oFrhc Act all cinzmrognpl~ exhibitions held
by Ihc Mobilc Audio-Visual Units rninlained and 5ponsorcd by [his Govcm~~nl, we
Nnlificalian No. 95?0P., dad 19.1 1.58. gublislcrl in ~hc 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?.
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 his 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 his 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 msfemd terrirories wirh effecl Irnm rhc 1st July. 1959,
subjcc~ lo ~hc addition of seclion 15 to rhe said Acr ride s. 3(1) of ~hc Wcn Bcngd
TmTcmd Tcrri~orics (Assimilarion of bws) Acr, 19.58 (lest Ben. Act XlX ol1958).