| FOREIGN RELATIONS ACT, 1932 |
| FOREIGN RELATIONS ACT, 1932 12 OF 1932 An Act to provide against the publication of statements likely to prejudice the maintenance of friendly relations between [the Government of India] and the Government of certain foreign States : Whereas it is expedient to provide against the publication of statements likely to prejudice the maintenance of friendly relation between [the Government of India] and the Government of certain foreign States : It is hereby enacted as follows : SECTION 1 : Short title and extent (1) This Act may be called the Foreign Relations Act, 1932. 3 (1) 1. Subs. vide A.L.O., 1950.[(2) It extends to the whole of India, except Part B States.] SECTION 2 : Power of Central Government to prosecute in certain cases of defamation Where an offence falling under Chapter XXI of the Indian Penal Code is committed against a Ruler of a State outside but adjoining India, or against the consort or son or principal Minister of such Ruler, the Central Government may make, or authorize any person to make, complaint in writing of such offence, and notwithstanding anything contained in 3 (1) 1. See now Sec. 198 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).[Sec. 198 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898], any Court competent in other respects to take cognizance of such offence may take cognizance thereof on such complaint. Explanation.- 3 (2) 2. Deleted vide A.O., 1937.[* * *] SECTION 3 : Power to forfeit certain publications or to detain them in the course of transmission through post The provisions of 3 (2) 2. See now Secs. 95 (1), (2) and (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).[Secs. 99-A to 99-G of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898], and Secs. 27-B to 27-D of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 (6 of 1898), shall apply in the case of any book, newspaper or other document containing matter which is defamatory of a Ruler of a State outside but adjoining India or of the consort or son or principal Minister of such Ruler and tends to prejudice the maintenance of friendly relations between 3 (1) 1. Subs. vide A.L.O., 1948.[the Government of India] and the Government of such State, in like manner as they apply in the case of a book, newspaper or document containing seditious matter within the meaning of those sections : Provided that for the purposes of this section the said provisions shall be construed as if for the words "Provincial Government" wherever they occur, the words "Central Government" were substituted. SECTION 4 : Proof of status of persons defamed Where in any trial of an offence upon a complaint under Sec. 2, or in any proceeding before a High Court arising out of Sec. 3., there is a question whether any person is a Ruler of any State, or is the consort or son or principal Minister of such Ruler a certificate under the hand of a Secretary to the Central Government that such person is such Ruler, consort, son or principal Minister shall be conclusive proof of that fact. |
| Central Bare Acts |