4. Notice to be given of public meetings. –(1) No public meeting for the furtherance or discussion of any subject likely to cause disturbance or public excitement or for the exhibition or distributor, of any writing or printed matter relating to any such subject shall be held in any proclaimed area- (a) Unless written notice of the intention to hold such meeting and of the time and place of such meeting has been given to the District Magistrate or the Commissioner of Police, as the case may be, at least three days previously; (b) Unless permission to hold such meeting has been obtained in writing from the District Magistrate or the Commissioner of Police, as the case may be. (2) Power of Magistrate to cause report to be taken. -The District Magistrate or Prevention of Seditious Meetings Art, 1911 any Magistrate of the first class authorised by the District Magistrate in this behalf may, by order in writing, depute one or more Police-officers, not being below the rank of head constable or other persons to attend any such meeting for the purpose of causing a report to be taken of the proceedings. (3) Exception. - Nothing in this section shall apply to any public meeting held under any statutory or other express legal authority or to public meetings convened by a Sheriff or to any public meeting or class of public meetings exempted for that purpose by the State Government by general or special order. STATE AMENDMENT Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh In sub-section (2) of Section 4, for the words “Magistrate of the first class” substitute the words “Executive Magistrates of the first class,” [Punjab Act 25 of 1964 and Central Act 31 of 1966].
|