 bill no iii of 2015 the prohibition of publication and dissemination of objectionable material on religion bill, 2015 a billto prohibit the publication and dissemination of objectionable material on religion in any form in the country and for matters connected therewith or incidental theretobe  it enacted by parliament in the sixty-sixth year of the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called the prohibition of publication and dissemination of objectionable material on religion act, 2015short title, extent and commencement(2) it extends to the whole of india (3) it shall come into force with immediate effect5definitions2 in this act, unless the context otherwise requires,—(a) "agency" means as agency for prohibition of publication and dissemination of objectionable material on religion as established under section 4 of this act;(b) "complaint" means an objection registered with the agency by any indian citizen or institution;(c) "dissemination" means information communicated through recorded messages on telephones; radio; television, internet film-strips; movies or videos along with other means of communication;5(d) "objectionable material" means any publication and dissemination of contents hurting the religious sentiments of any indian citizen;(e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules framed under this act10(f) "publication" means a book, article, picture, photograph, pamphlet, advertisement on poster, banner or any other printed document; and(g) "religion" means all religions practiced by the citizens of india153 notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for time being in force the publication and dissemination of objectionable material on all religions in the country is prohibited herewith, no matter, whether a 'no objection certificate' has been obtained from any authority or notprohibition of publication and dissemination of objectionable material on religions4 (1) for the purpose of this act, the central government shall establish an agency, which shall be termed as agency for prohibition of publication and dissemination of objectionable material on religion20(2) subject to the provision of this act, this agency shall be set up in such a manner, as prescribedestablishment of an agency for prohibition of publication and dissemination of material on religion(3) the terms and conditions of service for the persons employed in the agency shall be as prescribed(4) the headquarters of the agency shall be at such place, as may be prescribed5 the agency shall perform the following functions:—functions of the agency25(a) registration of complaints pertaining to the publication and advertisementon dissemination of objectionable material on religion; received from concerned institutions and public; and their redressal;(b) to investigate the complaints duly registered;30(c) to impose a prohibition on publication and dissemination thereof, on thebasis of the outcome of investigation; and(d) to derecognise the respective publisher and advertising agency involved inpublication and dissemination of objectionable material on religionpenalty356 any person violating the provisions of section 3, shall be punished with animprisonment of not less than two years which may extend to five years and with a penalty of not less than one lakh rupees7 the central government shall, after due appropriation made by law in this behalf, provide the required funds, from time to time, for carrying out the purposes of this actfunds to be provided by central government8 the provisions of this act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being inforceact to have overriding effect409 the central government may, by notification in the official gazette make rules for carrying out the purposes of this actpower to make rules statement  of  objects  and  reasonsin recent times, there has been a sudden rise in the cases of publication and dissemination of objectionable material on religion in the country certain mischievious elements try to hurt the religious sentiments of the citizens of the country with support from certain publishers and advertising agencies in the name of right to freedom of expression enshrined in our constitution, they tend to threaten the integrity of the country such publication and dissemination of objectionable material on religion needs to be restricted in order to preserve the secular fabric of the country hence, this billprabhat  jha financial  memorandumclause 4 of the bill provides for the establishment of an agency for prohibition of publication and dissemination of objectionable material on religion and appointment of officers and employees in the agency clause 7 provides that central government shall provide the funds to said agency after due appropriation therefore, the bill, if enacted, will involve expenditure from consolidated fund of india it is estimated that an annual recurring expenditure of about rupees one hundred crores is likely to be involved from the consolidated fund of india a non-recurring expenditure of rupees six hundred crores is also likely to be involved memorandum  regarding  delegated  legislationclause 9 of the bill empowers the central government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of the bill as the rules will relate to matters of detail only, the delegation of legislative power is of a normal character———— a billto prohibit the publication and dissemination of objectionable material on religion in any form in the country and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto————(shri prabhat jha, mp)gmgipmrnd—3837rs(s3)—18-12-2015