ACT 35 OF 1961

 

THE KERALA PREVENTION OF DISTURBANCES OF

 

PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT, 1961 ¹

 

 

An Act to Provide for the prevention of disturbances of public meetings

 

            Preamble.-WHEREAS it is necessary to provide for the prevention of disturbances of public meetings;

 

            BE it enacted in the Twelfth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-

 

            1.  Short title, extent and commencement.- (1) This Act may be called the Kerala Prevention of Disturbances of Public Meetings Act, 1961.

 

                        (2) It extends to whole of the State of  Kerala.

 

                        (3) It shall come into force at once.

 

            2.  Penalty on endeavour to break up public meetings.- (1) Whoever at a public meeting acts in a disorderly manner for the purpose of preventing the transaction of the business for which the meeting was called together shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees or with both.

 

                        (2) any person who incites others to commit an offence under this section shall be guilty of a like offence.

 

                        (3) Any Police Officer may arrest without warrant a person who commits an offence under this section.

 

              Explanation.- For the purpose of this section “public meeting” means any meeting bona fide and lawfully held for a lawful purpose and for the furtherence or discussion of nay matter of public concern to which the public or any particular section of the public is invited or admitted.

 

            3.  Repeal.- The Cochin Prevention of Disturbances of Public Meetings Act XXVIII of 1124, is hereby repealed.