Police (Incitement To Disaffection) Act, 1922 1. Short title, extent and commencement 2. Definition 3. Penalty for causing disaffection, etc 4. Saving of acts done by police associations and other persons for certain purposes 5. Sanction to trial of offences by subordinate Courts 6. Trial of cases The Police (Incitement To Disaffection) Act, 1922
(22 of 1922)
151
An Act to provide a penalty for spreading disaffection among the police and for kindred offences.
Whereas it is expedient to penalize the spreading of disaffection among the police and other kindred offences; It is hereby enacted as follows:
| LEGISLATIVE HISTORY 6 |
| · Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937
· Indian Independence (Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordinances) Order, 1948 · Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950 · Adaptation of Laws (No.3) Order, 1956 |
| FACT SHEET 6 |
- Short title, extent and commencement .(1) This Act may be called The Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act , 1922.
[(2) It extends to the whole of India, except [the territories which immediately before the 1st November, 1956, were comprised in Part B States].]
(3) It shall come into force in any State or part of a State on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct.
| Object & Reasons6 |
| Statement of Objects and Reasons.-In view of the attempts that have been made and are being made (a) by means of threats, intimidation and otherwise to induce members of the police-force to refrain from doing their duty, and (b) to spread disaffection among them, the Government of India have for some time had under consideration the question of penalising such attempts. Neither the Indian Penal Code nor the Indian Police Act, 1861, contains provisions to meet this evil. A prosecution could doubtless in certain cases be instituted under section 29 of the Indian Police Act, 1861, read with the abetment sections of the Indian Penal Code, but section 29 of the Police Act was designed to meet ordinary breaches of discipline, and would not cover many dangerous forms of tampering with the police. Moreover, the maximum punishment permissible under that section, viz., three months' rigorous imprisonment is manifestly inadequate for serious offences of this nature. The Government of India are accordingly of opinion that the authorities should be given additional means of dealing with this form of crime, and it is proposed, therefore, to eiact the attached Bill, which has been framed on the lines of section 3 of the English Police Act of 1919 (9 and 10 Geo. V. Ch. 46). |
| STATE AMENDMENTS 6 |
| [Andhra Pradesh] .In its application to the State of Andhra Pradesh, in Section 1, sub-S. (2), after the expression except the territories which immediately before the 1st November, 1956, were comprised in Part B States, add other than the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.Andhra Pradesh Act 23 of 1958, Section 3 and Sch.
[Gujarat] .Same as that of Maharashtra.Gujarat Act 11 of 1960, Section 87. [Madhya Pradesh] .In its application to the State of Madhya Pradesh, in Section 1, (i) in sub-S. (2), after the words Part B States, add other than the Madhya Bharat and Sironja regions of the State of Madhya Pradesh. (ii) for sub-S. (3), substitute the following sub-section, namely: (3) It shall be in force in all such areas in Madhya Pradesh in which it was in force immediately before the commencement of Madhya Pradesh Second Extension of Laws Act, 1961 (40 of 1961), and shall come into force in other areas, on such date as the State Government may, by notification, appoint.Madhya Pradesh Act 40 of 1961. [Maharashtra] .In its application to the State of Maharashtra, in Section 1, (i) to sub-S. (2), add the following proviso, namely: Provided that on the commencement of the Police (Incitement to Disaffection) (Bombay Extension and Amendment) Act, 1958, it shall extend to the Saurashtra and Hyderabad areas of the State of Bombay. (ii) to sub-S. (3), add the following proviso, namely: Provided that on the commencement of the Police (Incitement to Disaffection) (Bombay Extension and Amendment) Act, 1958, it shall come into force in that part of the Saurashtra area of the State of Bombay in which the Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act, 1922, as modified and applied to that area by the State of Saurashtra (Application of Central and Bombay Acts) Ordinance 1948, was in force immediately before such commencement.Bombay Act 77 of 1958, Section 3. [Meghalaya] .In its application to the State of Meghalaya, in Section 1, sub-S. (3) shall be omitted.Meghalaya A.L.O. (No. 1) Order, 1974 (w.r.e.f. 21-1-1972). [Tamil Nadu] .In its application to the added territories in the State of Madras, in sub-S. (2) of Section 1, the words other than the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 shall be omitted.Madras (Added Territories) A.L.O., 1961. |
- Definition .In this Act, the expression member of a police force means any person appointed or enrolled for the performance of police duties under any enactment specified in the Schedule.
| STATE AMENDMENTS 6 |
| [Gujarat] .Same as that of Maharashtra.Gujarat Act 11 of 1960, Section 87.
[Maharashtra] .In its application to the State of Maharashtra, Section 2, the following shall be added at the end: or any corresponding law for the time being in force in any part of the Bombay State Bombay Act 77 of 1958, Section 4. |
- Penalty for causing disaffection, etc .Whoever intentionally causes or attempts to cause or does any act which he knows is likely to cause, disaffection towards [- - -]the Government establishment by law in[India]amongst the members of a police force, or induces or attempts to induce, or does any act which he knows is likely to induce, any member of a police force to withhold his services or to commit a breach of discipline, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both.
Explanation. Expression of disapprobation of the measures of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, or of disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government, do not constitute an offence under this section unless they cause or are made for the purpose of causing or are likely to cause disaffection.
| STATE AMENDMENTS 6 |
| [Madhya Pradesh] .In its application to the State of Madhya Pradesh, in Section 3, for the words with imprisonment which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees or with both, substitute with imprisonment which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to three years and with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.Madhya Pradesh Act 15 of 1981, Section 3.
[Maharashtra] .(a) Section 3 of the Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act, 1922, in its application to the State of Maharashtra, shall be renumbered as sub-S. (1) of that section and in sub-section (1) so renumbered, for the portion beginning with the words shall be punished and ending with the words or with both, the following shall be substituted, namely: shall on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both: Provided that in the absence of special and adequate reasons to the contrary to be mentioned in the judgment of the Court, such imprisonment shall not be less than six months and such time shall not be less than five hundred rupees. (b) after sub-S. (1) so remembered, add the following sub-section, namely: (2) All offences under this Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable.Maharashtra Act 23 of 1983, Section 2 (w.r.e.f. 18-1-1983). |
- Saving of acts done by police associations and other persons for certain purposes .Nothing shall be deemed to be an offence under this Act which is done in good faith
(a) for the purpose of promoting the welfare or interests of any member of a police force by inducing him to withhold his services in any manner authorised by law; or
(b) by or on behalf of any association formed for the purpose of furthering the interests of members of a police force as such, where the association has been authorised or recognised by the Government and the act done is done under any rules or articles of the association which have been approved by the Government.
| STATE AMENDMENTS 6 |
| [Madhya Pradesh] .In its application to the State of Madhya Pradesh, after Section 4, insert the following section, namely:
4-A. Offences to be cognizable and non-bailable .(1) Every offence under this Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable. (2) No bail shall be granted by any Court under this section unless prosecution has been afforded reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.Madhya Pradesh Act 15 of 1981, Section 4. |
- Sanction to trial of offences by subordinate Courts .No Court shall proceed to the trial of any offence under this Act except with the previous sanction, or on the complaint of the District Magistrate or, in the case of a Presidency-town, [- - -]of the Commissioner of Police.
| STATE AMENDMENTS 6 |
| [Andhra Pradesh] .In its application to the State of Andhra Pradesh, in Section 5, for the words of the District Magistrate or, in the case of a Presidency-town, of the Commissioner of Police, substitute of the District Collector or, in the case of the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, of the Commissioner of Police.Andhra Pradesh Act 23 of 1958, Section 3 and Sch.
[Maharashtra] .In its application to the State of Maharashtra, in Section 5, (a) after the words a Presidency-town, insert or any other area under the charge of a Commissioner of Police.Bombay Act 56 of 1959, Section 3 and Sch. (b) the words or on the complaint shall be deleted.Maharashtra Act 23 of 1983, Section 3 (w.r.e.f. 18-1-1983). [Tamil Nadu] .In its application to the State of Tamil Nadu, (i) in Section 5 (as amended by Andhra Pradesh Act 23 of 1958), for the words the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, substitute a Presidency-town.Madras (Added Territories) A.L.O., 1961. (ii) in Section 5 (as amended by Andhra Pradesh Act 23 of 1958), for the words District Collector, substitute District Magistrate.Tamil Nadu Act 8 of 1964, Section 4 and Sch. II. |
- Trial of cases .(1) No Court inferior to that of a Presidency Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence under this Act.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in Chapter XXII of the [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898)] no offence under this Act shall be triable summarily.
| STATE AMENDMENTS 6 |
| [Andhra Pradesh] .In its application to the State of Andhra Pradesh, in sub-S. (1) of Section 6, the words, Presidency Magistrate or shall be omitted.Andhra Pradesh Act 23 of 1958, Section 3 and Sch.
[Maharashtra] .In its application to the State of Maharashtra, substitute for Section 6, the following section, namely: 6. Trial of cases.(1) No Court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence under this Act. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in Provided that where any case is tried summarily and the accused is convicted under this Act, no sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding three months shall be passed by the Magistrate concerned and the provision for awarding punishment of minimum amount of fine under this Act shall not apply.Maharashtra Act 23 of 1983, Section 6 (w.r.e.f. 18-1-1983). [Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh] .In its application to the States of Punjab and Haryana and Union territory of Chandigarh, in Section 6, for the words Magistrate of the first class, substitute[Tamil Nadu] .In its application to territories added to Tamil Nadu by Central Act 56 of 1959, Section 6, before Magistrate of the first class, insert Presidency Magistrate or which were omitted by Andhra Pradesh Act 23 of 1958.Madras (Added Territories) A.L.O., 1961 (w.r.e.f. 1-4-1960). |
Section 7
| STATE AMENDMENTS 6 |
| [Gujarat] .Same as that of Maharashtra.Gujarat Act 11 of 1960, Section 87 (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
[Maharashtra] .In its application to the State of Maharashtra, after Section 6, insert the following section, namely: 7. Repeal and saving.The police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act, 1922, as modified and applied to the Saurashtra area of the State of Bombay by the State of Saurashtra (Application of Central and Bombay Acts) Ordinance, 1948, is hereby repealed: Provided that such repeal shall not affect (a) the previous operation of the law so repealed, or (b) any punishments incurred in respect of any offence committed against any of the provisions of the law so repealed, or (c) any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of such punishment as aforesaid; and any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced, and any such punishment may be imposed as if this Act had not been passed.Bombay Act 77 of 1958, Section 5. |
The Schedule
(See section 2)
| Year No. | Short title |
| Acts of the Governor-General in Council | |
| 1859 XXIV | The Madras District Police Act, 1859 |
| 1861 V | The Police Act, 1861 |
| [- - -] | |
| 1888 III | The Police Act, 1888 |
| 1892 V | The Bengal Military Police Act, 1892 |
| Year No. | Short title |
| Madras Act | |
| 1888 III | The Madras City Police Act, 1888 |
| Bombay Acts | |
| 1890 IV | The Bombay District Police Act, 1890 |
| 1902 IV | The City of Bombay Police Act, 1902 |
| Bengal Acts | |
| 1866 II | The Calcutta Suburban Police Act, 1866 |
| 1866 IV | The Calcutta Police Act, 1866 |
| 1890 III | The Calcutta Port Act, 1890 |
| 1920 II | The Eastern Frontier Rifles (Bengal Battalion) Act, 1920 |
| [- - -] Assam Act | |
| 1920 I | The Assam Rifles Act, 1920 |
| Regulation by the Governor-General in Council | |
| 1888 II | The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Military Police Regulation, 1888. |
| STATE AMENDMENTS 6 |
| [Gujarat] .Same as that of Maharashtra.Gujarat Act 11 of 1960, Section 87.
[Maharashtra] .In its application to the State of Maharashtra, in the Schedule Iunder the heading Bombay Act, for the entries 1890 IV The Bombay District Police Act, 1890 1902 IV The City of Bombay Police Act, 1902 substitute the following: 1951 XXII The Bombay Police Act, 1951. Bombay Act 21 of 1954, Section 3 and Sch. II. To the entry under the heading Bombay Act, the following shall be added: 1951 XXXVIII The Bombay State Reserve Police Force Act, 1951.Bombay Act 77 of 1958, Section 6. |