THE PUDUCHERRY CINEMAS(REGULATION) ACT, 1964

400 
 

THE PUDUCHERRY CINEMAS 
(REGULATION) ACT, 1964 

(No. 13 of 1964) 
 

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
 
 SECTION  

 1.  Short title, extent and commencement.  
 2.  Definitions.  
 3.  Cinematograph exhibitions to be licensed.  
 4.  Licensing Authority.  
 5.  Restrictions on powers of licensing authority.  
 6.  Licensing authority to permit construction and reconstruction of  
  buildings, installation of machinery etc., for cinematograph  
  exhibitions.  
 7.  Power of Government to issue directions.  
 8.  Power of licensing authority to issue direction.  
 9.  Power to suspend exhibition of films in certain cases.  
 10.  Penalties.  
 11.  Power to revoke licence.  
 12.  Power to make rules.  
 13.  Power to exempt.  
 14.  Repeal.  
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



401 
 

THE PUDUCHERRY CINEMAS (REGULATION) ACT, 1964 

(No. 13 of 1964) 
 
 

15th January, 1965.  

AN ACT 
 

to provide for the regulation of exhibitions by means of cinematographs in the  
 Union territory of Puducherry.  
 
 WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the regulation of exhibitions by 
means of cinematographs in the Union territory of Puducherry;  
 
 BE it enacted in the Fifteenth Year of the Republic of India as follows: -  
 

 1. Short title, extent and commencement. – (1) This Act may be called the 
Puducherry Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1964. 

  (2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Puducherry.  

  +(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by a 
notification, appoint.  
 

 2. Definitions. – In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires. –  

(a) “Cinematograph” includes any apparatus for the representation of 
moving pictures or series of pictures;  

(b) “Government” means the Administrator appointed under Article 239 
of the Constitution;  

(c) “Notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette 
of the Union territory of Puducherry;  

(d) “Place” includes a house, building, tent and any description of 
transport, whether by water, land or air;  

(e) “Prescribed” means prescribed by the rules made under this Act;  

 

 

 

+ This Act came into force w.e.f  22.03.1966 
  



402 
 

(f) “Competent authority” means  

(i) in relation to the entire Union territory of  Puducherry, the 
District Magistrate (Independent); and  

(ii) in relation to Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, the Administrator of 
the respective region.  

 
 
 3. Cinematograph exhibitions to be licensed. – Save as otherwise provided in 
this Act, no person shall give an exhibition by means of a cinematograph 
elsewhere than in a place licensed under this Act, or otherwise than in compliance 
with any conditions and restrictions imposed by such licence.  
  

 4. Licensing authority. – The authority having power to grant licences under 
this Act (hereinafter referred to as the Licensing Authority) shall be the District 
Magistrate (Independent):  

  Provided that the Government may, by a notification in the Official 
Gazette, constitute, for the whole or any part of the Territory, such other authority 
as it may specify in the notification to be the licensing authority for the purpose of 
this Act.    
 

 5. Restrictions on powers of licensing authority, -- (1) The licensing authority 
shall not grant a licence unless it is satisfied that ---  

(a)  the rules made under this Act have been substantially complied 
with, and  

(b)  adequate precautions have been taken in the place in respect of 
which the licence is to be granted, to provide for the safety, 
convenience and comfort of the persons attending exhibitions 
therein.  

  (2) The Government may issue such orders and directions of a general 
character as they may consider necessary, in respect of any matter relating to 
licences for the exhibition of cinematograph films, to licensing authorities; and 
every licensing authority shall give effect to such orders and directions.  

  (3) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this section, the licensing 
authority may grant licences under this Act to such persons and on such terms and 
conditions and subject to such restrictions as it may determine. When the licensing 
authority refuses to grant any licence, it shall do so by an order communicated to 
the applicant giving the reasons in writing for such refusal.  

  (4) Every licence under this Act shall be personal to the person to whom it 
is granted and no transfer or assignment thereof whether absolute or by way of 
security or otherwise shall be valid unless approved in writing by the licensing 
authority.  



403 
 
 
 
  (5) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the licensing authority 
refusing to grant a licence under this Act or refusing to approve any transfer or 
assignment thereof, may, within such time as may be prescribed, appeal to the 
Government or such authority as the Government may specify in this behalf and 
the Government or the authority, as the case may be, may make such order in the 
case as they or it may think fit.  
 

 6. Licensing authority to permit construction and reconstruction of buildings, 
installation of machinery etc., for cinematograph exhibitions. – (1) Any person 
who intends ---  

(a)  to use any place for the exhibition of cinematograph films; or  

(b) to use any site for constructing a building thereon for the 
exhibition of cinematograph films; or  

(c) to construct or reconstruct any building for such exhibition; or  

(d) to install any machinery in any place where cinematograph 
exhibitions are proposed to be given, shall make an application in 
writing to the licensing authority for permission therefor, 
together with such particulars as may be prescribed.  

  (2) The licensing authority shall thereupon, after consulting such authority 
or officer as may be prescribed, grant or refuse permission and the provisions of 
sections 5, 10 and 11 relating to licences shall so far as may be, apply to permission 
under this section.  
 

 7. Power of Government to issue directions. – The Government may, from 
time to time, issue directions to any licensee or to licensees generally, requiring the 
licensee or licensees to exhibit such film or class of films having a scientific or 
educative value, such films dealing with news and current events, such 
documentary films, indigenous films, or such other films having special value to 
the public, as may have been approved by the Central Government in that behalf 
from time to time; and where any such directions have been issued, those 
directions shall be deemed to be additional conditions and restrictions subject to 
which the licence has been granted; 

  Provided that no direction issued under this section shall require the 
licensee to exhibit any such film or films exceeding two thousand feet at, or for 
more than one-fifth of the entire time taken for, any one show.  
 
 
 
 
 



404 
 
 
 8. Power of licensing authority to issue direction. – The licensing authority 
may, from time to time, issue directions to any licensee or licensees generally, 
requiring the licensee or licensees to exhibit in each show such slides of public 
interest as may be supplied by that authority;  

  Provided that no direction issued under this section shall require the 
licensee to exhibit more than three such slides at, or for more than four minutes in 
any one show.  
 

 9. Power to suspend exhibition of films in certain cases. --   (1) The 
Competent Authority may, if he is of opinion that any film which is being or is 
about to be publicly exhibited is likely to cause breach of the peace, by order in 
writing suspend the exhibition of the said film; and during such suspension, no 
person shall exhibit such film or permit it to be exhibited in any place in the State 
or any part thereof, as the case may be.  

  (2) No order shall be issued under sub-section  (1) until the person 
concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the 
order proposed to be issued in regard to him:  

  Provided that this sub-section shall not apply where the Competent 
Authority is satisfied that owing to any emergency or for some other reason, to be 
recorded by him in writing, it is not reasonably practicable to give to that person 
an opportunity of showing cause:  

  Provided further that a copy of the reasons recorded by the Competent 
Authority for issuing the order shall be communicated to the person concerned as 
soon as it becomes reasonably practicable to do so.   

  (3) If any question arises whether it is reasonably practicable to give to 
any person an opportunity of showing cause under sub-section  (2), the decision 
thereon of the Competent Authority shall be final,  

  (4) Where an order under sub-section  (1) has been issued by the 
Competent Authority, a copy thereof, together with a statement of the reasons 
therefor, shall forthwith be forwarded by him to the Government, and the 
Government may, on a consideration of all the facts of the case, either confirm or 
vary or discharge the order.  

  (5) An order issued under sub-section  (1) shall remain in force for a 
period of two weeks from the date thereof, but the Government may, if they are of 
opinion that the order should continue in force, direct that the period of 
suspension shall be extended by such further period as they think fit;  

  Provided that the Government or the Competent Authority may review 
their own order.  
 
 10. Penalties. – If the owner or person in charge of a cinematograph uses the 
same or allows it to be used, or if the owner of occupier of any place permits that 



405 
 
place to be used, in contravention of the provisions of this Act or of the rules made 
thereunder, or of the conditions and restrictions upon or subject to which any 
licence has been granted under this Act, he shall be punishable with fine which 
may extend to one thousand rupees and, in the case of a continuing offence, with a 
further fine which may extend to one hundred rupees for each day during which 
the offence continues.  
 
     *[10 A. Composition of offences. Any offence punishable under section 10, or 
any breach of the conditions of the licence or any contravention of the provision of 
this Act and rules made thereunder may, either before or after the institution of 
prosecution, or cancellation or suspension of the licence issued under the 
provisions of this Act, be compounded by the District Magistrate on payment of 
such sum, as the District Magistrate thinks fit.] 
 
     11. Power to revoke licence. – Where the holder of a licence has been convicted 
of an offence under section 7 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 (Central Act  XXXVII 
of 1952), or section 10 of this Act, the licence may be revoked by the licensing 
authority by an order in writing.  
 

 12. Power to make rules. – (1) The Government may, by notification, make 
rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.   

  (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules 
may provide for ---  

(a)  the terms, conditions, and restrictions, subject to which a licence 
may be granted under this Act and the fees to be paid in respect 
of such licence;  

 
(b)  the regulation of cinematograph exhibitions for securing the 

public safety;  
 
(c)  the time within which and the conditions subject to which an 

appeal under sub-section  (5) of section 5 may be preferred, and 
the fees to be paid in respect of such appeals;  

 
(d)  the procedure to be followed by persons submitting 

applications for permission under section 6;  
 

________________________________________________________________________ 

*Amended vide Act No. 7 of 1981 w.e.f 07-07-1981. 
 

 
 

 
 



406 
 

(e)  the documents and plans to be submitted together with such 
applications, and the fees to be paid on such applications;  

(f)  the matters to be taken into consideration by the licensing 
authority before approving the site for the construction of the 
building, or the plans for the construction or reconstruction of 
the building or the installation of machinery;  

(g)  the terms, conditions and restrictions subject to which the 
licensing authority may accord approval in respect of the 
matters referred to in clause (f);  

(h)  the action to be taken in cases of contravention of the terms, 
conditions and restrictions subject to which such approval was 
accorded;  

(i)  the procedure to be followed by the licensing authority before 
granting or refusing permission under section 6 and any other 
matter incidental thereto.  

  (3) All rules made under this Act shall, as soon as may be after it is made, 
be laid before the Legislative Assembly of Puducherry while it is in session for a 
total period of fourteen days, which may be comprised in one session or in two 
successive sessions, and , if before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or 
the session immediately following, the Legislative Assembly makes any 
modification in the rule or decide that the rule should not be made, that rule shall 
thereafter have effect, only in such modified form or be of no effect as the case may 
be, so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without 
prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.  
 

 13. Power to exempt. – The Government may, by order in writing, exempt, 
subject to such conditions and restrictions as they may impose, any cinematograph 
exhibition or class of cinematograph exhibitions or any place where a 
cinematograph exhibition is given from any of the provisions of this Act or of any 
rules made thereunder.  
 
 14. Repeal. – Any law or any regulation in force in the Union territory of  
Puducherry corresponding to the provisions of this Act shall stand repealed as 
from the coming into force of this Act:  

  Provided that anything done or any action taken, including any 
notification, instruction or direction issued, permit or licence granted under the 
law or regulation so repealed, shall be deemed to have been done or taken under 
the provisions of this Act, and shall continue to be in force accordingly unless and 
until superseded by anything done or any action taken under this Act.   

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