S.1 Short title, extent and commencement

       (1) This Act may be called the Cinematograph Act, 1918.
       (2) It extends to all Part A States and Part C States, and also to every Part B State, other than1[* * *] Jammu and Kashmir, in so far as it relates to sanctioning of cinematograph films for exhibition.
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       1. The words "Hyderabad and" were omitted by the Part B States (Laws) Act, 1951 (Act 3 of 1951).

S.2 Definitions

       In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, 1 ["adult" means a person who has completed his eighteenth year;] 2 ["Authority" means the Authority constituted by the Central Government under section 6;]
       "cinematograph" includes any apparatus for the representation of moving pictures or series of pictures;
       "place" includes also a house, building,3 [tent or any description of transport, whether by sea, land or air;] and
       "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.
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       1. Inserted by the Cinematograph (Second Amendment) Act (Act 39 of 1949).
       2. Inserted by the Cinematograph (Second Amendment) Act (

S.2(a) Rule of construction in the application of Act to Part B States

       In the application of this Act to any Part B State, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, -
       (a) [* * *]
       (b) references to the District Magistrate shall be construed as references to the corresponding authority in the Part B State; and
       (c) [* * *].

S.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.

S.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, or, in a presidency town the Commissioner of Police:
       PROVIDED that the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute for the whole or any part of a State such other authority as it may specify in the notification to be the licensing authority, for the purposes of this Act.

S.5 Restrictions on powers of licensing authority

       (1) The licensing authority shall not grant a licence under this Act, unless it is satisfied that-
       (a) the rules made under the 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 given to provide for the safety of persons attending exhibitions therein.
       1[(2) The grant of every licence shall be subject to the conditions that the licensee will not exhibit or permit to be exhibited in such place-
       (a) any film other than a film which has been certified by the Authority as suitable for unrestricted public exhibition or for public exhibition restricted to adults, and which, when exhibited, displays the prescribed mark of that Authority and has not been altered or ta

S.6 Certification of films

       (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, constitute an Authority in the prescribed manner for the purpose of examining and certifying films as suitable for unrestricted public exhibition or for public exhibition restricted to adults, and prescribe the manner in which the Authority shall exercise the powers conferred on it by this Act.
       (2) If the Authority after examination considers that a film is suitable for unrestricted public exhibition or that, although not suitable for such exhibition it is suitable for public exhibition restricted to adults, it shall grant to the person applying for a certificate in respect of the film a "U" certificate in the former case and an "A" certificate in the latter case, and shall in, either case cause the film to be so marked in the prescribed manner, and any such certificate shall, save as hereinafter provided, be

S.7 Power of State Government or local authority to suspend exhibition of films in certain cases

       (1) The State Government, in respect of the whole State or any part thereof and the District Magistrate or the Commissioner of Police, in respect of the District, or town within his jurisdiction, may, if it or he is of opinion that any film, which is being publicly exhibited, is likely to cause a breach of the peace, by order suspend the exhibition of any film, and during such suspension the film shall be deemed to be an uncertified film in the State or the district or town, as the case may be.
       (2) Where an order under sub-section (1) has been issued by a District Magistrate or a Commissioner of Police, a copy thereof, together with a statement of reasons therefore, shall forthwith be forwarded by the person making the same to the State Government and the State Government may either confirm or discharge the order.
       (3) No order made under

S.8 Penalties

       (1) If the owner or person in charge of a cinematograph uses the same or allows it to be used, or if the owner or occupier of any place permits that place to be used, in contravention of the provisions of this Act or the rules made there under, 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, and his licence, if any, shall be liable to be revoked by the licensing authority.
       (2) The exhibition of a film contrary to any order or direction under sub-section (5) or sub-section (7) of section 6 or section 7 shall, in the area to which such order or direction relates, be deemed to be a contravention of the c

S.9 Power to make rules

       (1) The Central Government may makes rules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.
       (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, rules made under this section may provide for-
       (a) the manner in which the Authority shall be constituted;
       (b) the delegation of any of the powers of the Authority to such person or persons as the Authority may nominate in this behalf;
       (c) the procedure of the Authority for examining and certifying films as suitable for public exhibition, and all matters ancillary thereto and the fees to be levied by such Authority;
       (d) the appointment of officers subordinate to the Authority and the regulation of the powers and d

S.10 Power to give directions

The Central Government may give directions to any State Government as to the carrying into execution in the State of any of the provisions contained in this Act or of any rules or orders made there under.

S.11 Power to exempt

The Central Government may, by order in writing exempt, subject to such conditions and restrictions as it may impose any cinematograph exhibition or class of cinematograph exhibitions from any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule made hereunder.