Union Minister Anurag Thakur announced on Thursday that the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, recently passed by voice vote in the Lok Sabha, aims to streamline the process of registering periodicals, transforming it from an eight-step procedure under the outdated law into a single-step process. Thakur, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, emphasized the bill's simplicity and efficiency during its passage through the Lok Sabha, stating that newspapers and periodicals can now undergo registration with a simple click, eliminating the previous cumbersome steps.
The newly approved legislation replaces the archaic Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, of 1867, with the Rajya Sabha having already passed the bill on August 3. Thakur highlighted that the new bill, fostering a "new India" approach, reflects the Modi government's commitment to discarding colonial-era mentalities and implementing laws suited to contemporary times.
The minister applauded the bill's measures to decriminalize various provisions of the previous law, except one related to a six-month jail term for publishing newspapers or periodicals without government registration. He asserted that the new legislation empowers the Press Registrar General to impose fines for publishing periodicals without registration and for failure to submit an annual statement promptly.
Thakur criticized past Congress governments for perpetuating the colonial-era law enacted to stifle freedom fighters from establishing newspapers. He underscored that the new bill aligns with the government's objective to reduce criminality, enhance ease of doing business, and improve overall living conditions through progressive legislation. Addressing concerns raised during the debate, Thakur dismissed apprehensions about provisions allowing the Press Registrar to inspect periodical premises, emphasizing that such measures are essential for obtaining the necessary information.
During the debate, BJP members Nishikant Dubey and Ganesh Singh called for the appointment of a nodal officer to curb malpractices related to YouTube channels and urged the regulation of social media to prevent blackmail and misinformation. BJD member Bhratruhari Mahtab highlighted the rising cost of newsprint, posing a challenge to the newspaper industry, and YSRCP member K G Madhav and Shiv Sena member Rahul Shewale called for government actions to combat the menace of fake news.
