Vernacular Press Act, 1878

Background and evolution

By the 1870s, Indian-language newspapers had grown rapidly in Bengal, Bombay and other regions. They criticised colonial policies, such as the handling of the famine of 1876–78, heavy expenditure on the Delhi Durbar of 1877, the Second Anglo-Afghan War and racial arrogance of officials. Lord Lytton's government regarded this criticism as dangerous, especially in the aftermath of 1857.

The Vernacular Press Act was rushed through the Imperial Legislative Council in a single sitting in March 1878. It was modelled on the Irish Press Act, which had been used in Ireland. Because it targeted only Indian-language papers and left the English press, largely owned by Europeans, untouched, it was seen as discriminatory as well as repressive.

Key features and provisions

• Bonds: magistrates could require printers and publishers of vernacular newspapers to sign bonds undertaking not to publish material likely to excite disaffection against the government or antipathy between communities.
• Security deposits: publishers could be required to deposit security, which could be forfeited if the bond was violated.
• Seizure: the government could seize printing presses and paper for violations.
• No appeal: decisions of the magistrate were final; there was no right to appeal to a court of law.
• Pre-censorship option: a newspaper could escape the Act's provisions by submitting proofs to a government censor before publication.