1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Parliamentary
Proceedings (Protection of Publication) Act, 1977.
(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir*.
(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 25th day of March, 1977.
2. Definition.—In this Act, “newspaper” means any printed periodical work containing public news
or comments on public news, and includes a news agency supplying material for publication in a
newspaper.
3. Publication of reports of Parliamentary proceedings privileged.—(1) Save as otherwise
provided in sub-section (2), no person shall be liable to any proceedings, civil or criminal, in any court in
respect of the publication in a newspaper of a substantially true report of any proceedings of either House
of Parliament, unless the publication is proved to have been made with malice.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall be construed as protecting the publication of any matter, the
publication of which is not for the public good.
4. Act also to apply to Parliamentary proceedings broadcast by wireless telegraphy.—This Act
shall apply in relation to reports or matters broadcast by means of wireless telegraphy as part of any
programme or service provided by means of a broadcasting station situate within the territories to which
this Act extends as it applies in relation to reports or matters published in a newspaper.