THE DRAMATIC PERFORMANCES ACT, 1876 [Act, No. 19 of 1876]1 [AS ON 1956] [16th December, 1876] PREAMBLE An Act for the better control of public dramatic performances. WHEREAS it is expedient to empower the Government to prohibit public dramatic performances which are scandalous, defamatory, seditious or obscene; It is hereby enacted as follows:-- ________________________ 1. This Act has been repealed in its application to Madras by Mad. Act 33 of 1954.
View Complete Act List Judgments citing this sectionThis Act may be called the Dramatic Performances Act, 1876. Local extent.-- It extends to the whole of India1[the territories which immediately before 1st November, 1956, were comprised in Part B States] {The words "And it shall come into force at once" were rep. by Act 10 of 1914.} ________________________ 1. Substituted for the words "except Part B States." By 2 A.L.O. 1956
View Complete Act List Judgments citing this sectionIn this Act "Magistrate" means, in the Presidency-towns, a Magistrate of Police, and elsewhere the Magistrate of the district.
View Complete Act List Judgments citing this sectionWhenever the State Government is of opinion that any play, pantomime or other drama performed or about to be performed in a public place is-- (a) of a scandalous or defamatory nature, or (b) likely to excite feelings of disaffection to the Government established by law in {Subs. by the A.O.1948 for "British India or British Burma"}[India] or (c) likely to deprave and corrupt persons present at the performance, the State Government, or outside the Presidency-towns {The words "and Rangoon" were rep. by the A.O.1937} the State Government or such Magistrate as it may empower in this behalf, may by order prohibit the performance. Explanation.--Any building or enclosure to which the public are admitted to witness a performance on payment of money shall be deemed a "public place" within the meaning of this section.
View Complete Act List Judgments citing this sectionA copy of any such order may be served on any person about to take part in the performance so prohibited, or on the owner or occupier of any house, room or place in which such performance is intended to take place; and any person on whom such copy is served, and who does, or willingly permits, any act in disobedience to such order, shall be punished on conviction before a Magistrate with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both.
View Complete Act List Judgments citing this sectionAny such order may be notified by proclamation, and a written or printed notice thereof may be stuck up at any place or places adapted for giving information of the order to the persons intending to take part in or to witness the performance so prohibited.
View Complete Act List Judgments citing this sectionWhoever after the notification of any such order-- (a) takes part in the performance prohibited thereby or in any performance substantially the same as the performance so prohibited, or (b) in any manner assists in conducting any such performance, or (c) is, in wilful disobedience to such order, present as a spectator during the whole or any part of any such performance, or (d) being the owner or occupier, or having the use of any house, room or place, opens, keeps or uses the same for any such performance, or permits the same to be opened, kept or used for any such performance, shall be punishable on conviction before a Magistrate with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine or with both.
View Complete Act List Judgments citing this sectionFor the purpose of ascertaining the character of any intended public dramatic performance, the State Government, or such officer as it may specially empower in this behalf, may apply to the author, proprietor or printer of the drama about to be performed, or to the owner or occupier of the place in which it is intended to be performed, for such information as the State Government or such officer thinks necessary. Every person so applied to shall be bound to furnish the same to the best of his ability, and whoever contravenes this section shall be deemed to have committed an offence under section 176 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
View Complete Act List Judgments citing this sectionIf any Magistrate has reason to believe that any house, room or place is used, or is about to be used, for any performance prohibited under this Act, he may, by his warrant, authorize any officer of Police to enter with such assistance as may be requisite, by night or by day and by force, if necessary, any such house, room or place, and to take into custody all persons whom he finds therein, and to seize all scenery, dresses and other articles found therein and reasonably suspected to have been used, or to be intended to be used, for the purpose of such performance.
View Complete Act List Judgments citing this sectionNo conviction under this Act shall bar a prosecution under section 124A or section 294 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
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