Rajamannar, C.J.-This is a petition under section 24 of the Press (Objectionable Matter) Act, 1951, which will hereinafter be referred to as the Act, to set aside an order of the Government of Madras, G.O.Ms. 329, Public (General-B) dated 6th March, 1954, published in Fort St. George Gazette, dated 10th March, 1954, declaring the Book “Kalavikkalai” in Tamil, printed at Rajan Electric Press and published by the petitioner Company, forfeit to the Government under section 11 of the Act. The notification in question runs thus:

“Whereas the Tamil Book entitled”Kalavikkalai“purporting to be a translation of an Arabic work written by Sheikum Nafsawi, translated by Sri R.P.M.Ghani, printed at Rajan Electric Press, Madras and published by Shanker &38; Co., Madras, contains objectionable matter within the meaning of clause (vi) of section 3 of the Press (Objectionable Matter) Act, 1951 (Central Act LVI of 1951).

And whereas the Advocate-General, Madras, has granted a certificate under section 11 of the said Act that the said book contains objectionable matter within the meaning of section 3 of the said Act;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11 of the said Act, the

Click Here to Read the rest of this document