Updated: Sunday April 17, 2016/AlAhad
Rajab 10, 1437/Ravivara
Chaitra 28, 1938, at 05:25:37 PM
1The Newsprint
Control Ordinance, 1971
ORDINANCE
No. XI of 1971
[26th April,
1971]
An Ordinance to provide for regulating the keeping, storage,
distribution, disposal, acquisition and use of newsprint.
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for regulating the keeping,
storage, distribution, disposal, acquisition and use of-news-print and for
matters ancillary thereto ;-
AND WHEREAS the national interest of
NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the Proclamation of the 25th day of March, 1969, read with the Provisional Constitution Order,
and in exercise of all powers enabling him in that behalf, the President is
pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:---
1. Short title, extent and commencement.___(1) This
Ordinance may be called the Newsprint Control Ordinance, 1971.
(2) It extends to the whole of
(3) It shall come into force at once.
2. Ordinance to override other laws. This
Ordinance shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in the 2[Price
Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act, 1977 (XIXX of 1977)]
or any order or other instrument made or issued thereunder or any other law for
the time being in force.
3. Defenitions. In this
Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,---
(a) “daily newspaper” means a newspaper which is published not less
than five days a week;
(b) “newspaper”
means any publication printed on newsprint and published at regular intervals
of not more than a month ; and
(c) “newsprint” means printing paper, white or coloured, in reels or
in sheets, unsized or soft sized, the fiber content of which comprised not less
than 70 per cent of mechanical wood pulp and which weights between 50 to 54
grams per square metre.
4. Regulation of use of newsprint etc. Except with
the prior permission in writing of the 3[Federal
Government], no person shall:---
(a) use newsprint for printing of publishing any newspaper started
after the commencement of this Ordinance;
(b) use newsprint for printing or publishing any newspaper in excess
of such quantity as the 2[Federal
Government] may, by general or special order, prescribe in respect of such
newspaper; or
1Validated
by the Validation of Laws Act. 1975 (63 of 1975), s. 2 and Sch.,
2Subs. by
Federal Laws (revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981. .s.3 and
II sch.,
3See
foot-note on page 558, supra.
(c) use newsprint for printing or publishing any book, pamphlet,
poster or other thing which is not a newspaper.
5. Dealing in newsprint.—(1) The 1[Federal
Government] may, by notification in the official Gazette, specify the dealers
who shall be approved dealers of newsprint for the purposes of this Ordinance.
(2) Subject to an order under sub-section (3), upon the issue of a
notification under sub-section (1), no dealer shall, except with the prior
permission in writing of the 1[Federal
Government], sell or dispose of newsprint to any person other than,---
(a) an approved dealer; or
(b) a person who requires the newsprint,---
(i) for printing or publishing any newspaper started before the
commencement of this Ordinance, or
(ii) for printing or publishing any newspaper started after the
commencement of this Ordinance, where the use of newsprint for printing or
publishing such newspaper has been permitted under clause (a) of section 4, or
(iii) for printing or publishing any book, pamphlet, poster or other
thing which is not a newspaper, where the use of newsprint for such printing or
publishing has been permitted under clause (c) of section 4.
(3) The 1[Federal
Government] may, by order in writing, require any dealer to sell to such person
as is referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (2) such quantity of newsprint
as may be specified in the order and may issue and incidental or supplementary
instructions in regard to such sale.
6. Fixation of price.—(1) The 1[Federal
Government] may, by notification in the official Gazette, fix the maximum price
above which newsprint shall not be sold and different prices may be fixed for
different localities for different varieties of newsprint or for newsprint of
different origins.
(2) No person shall buy or sell or offer to buy or sell newsprint
at a price above the maximum price fixed under sub-section (1).
7. Declaration of stock held. Every dealer
and every person holding stocks of newsprint shall, within a period of seven
days from the commencement of this Ordinance, submit to the 1[Federal
Government] or an officer authorised by it in this behalf a declaration of the
stocks of newsprint held by him at such commencement.
1See
foot-note 1 on page 558, supra.
8. Declaration by importer. Every
importer of newsprint shall, within seven days of the clearance of the
newsprint from Customs, submit to the 1 [Federal Government] or an officer
authorised by it is this behalf a declaration specifying the particulars of
newsprint so cleared by him or on his behalf.
9. Maintenance of records of sale, etc. The 1[Federal
Government] may direct a dealer or an importer or a person using newsprint to
maintain records of all sales, purchases, imports and uses of newprint and may
prescribe the form in which such record shall be maintained.
10. Power
to call for information, etc.—(l).The 1[Federal
Government] may require the proprietor of, or any other person concerned with,
any printing press or newspaper, daily newspaper, book, pamphlet or poster or
any person carrying on or concerned with any business or undertaking which
involves the sales, distribution, storage or use of newsprint, to give any
information in his possession or within his knowledge with respect to any
transaction relating to newsprint, and the person so required shall give the
required information to the best of his knowledge and belief.
(2) No person shall mutilate, deface, tamper with, conceal or
destroy any book or document relating to any transaction referred to in sub-section
(1).
(3) The 1[Federal
Government] may, by order in writing, authorise any officer or other person, to
inspect any books or documents referred to in sub-section (2) in the possession
of any of the persons referred to in sub-section (1) and such person shall,
whenever required to do so, permit the inspection to be made without any
hindrance, evasion or concealment.
(4) The 1[Federal
Government] may, by order in writing, authorise any officer or other person to
enter and search or cause to be entered and searched any premises, or place
where he has reason to believe that anything in contravention of this Ordinance
has taken place or is likely to take place, and such officer or person may
seize any newsprint or other articles in respect of which he has reason to
believe that any such contravention has been committed or is about to be
committed.
11. Penalty. Whoever
contravenes any provision of this Ordinance or of any order made, notification
issued or direction given under this Ordinance shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with
both.
12. Delegation of powers. The 1[Federal
Government] may, by order in writing, direct that any of its powers and
functions under this Ordinance shall, in relation to such matters and subject
to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order, be exercisable
also by an officer specified in the order.
[1]See
foot-note I on page 558, supra.
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