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Which of the following was nicknamed “The Gagging Act”:
  • a)
    Newspaper (Incitement to Offences) Act, 1908
  • b)
    Rowlatt Act, 1919
  • c)
    The Defence of India Act, 1915
  • d)
    Vernacular Press Act, 1878
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Which of the following was nicknamed “The Gagging Act”:a)N...
Vernacular Press Act, 1878 was passed by Lord Lytton and came to be nicknamed ―the gagging Act”. The worst features of this Act were—(i) discrimination between English and vernacular press, (ii) no right of appeal. Under VPA, proceedings were instituted against Som Prakash, Bharat Mihir, Dacca Prakash and Samachar. (Incidentally, the Amrita Bazar Patrika turned overnight into an English newspaper to escape the VPA.) There was strong opposition to the Act and finally Ripon repealed it in 1882.
The Vernacular Press Act (VPA) was designed to ‘better control’ the vernacular press and effectively punish and repress seditious writing. 
The provisions of the Act included the following:
1. The district magistrate was empowered to call upon the printer and publisher of any vernacular newspaper to enter into a bond with the government undertaking not to cause disaffection against the government or antipathy between persons of different religions, caste, race through published material; the printer and publisher could also be required to deposit security which could be forfeited if the regulations were contravened, and press equipment could be seized if the offence re-occurred.
2. The magistrate’s action was final and no appeal could be made in a court of law.
3. A vernacular newspaper could get exemption from the operation of the Act by submitting proofs to a government censor.
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Which of the following was nicknamed “The Gagging Act”:a)N...
Explanation:

Origin of the Nickname:
- The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was nicknamed "The Gagging Act" because it aimed to suppress the freedom of the Indian press, particularly newspapers published in Indian languages.

Provisions of the Act:
- The Vernacular Press Act empowered the government to confiscate the printing press of any newspaper that published materials that were deemed seditious or defamatory.
- It also allowed the authorities to arrest individuals associated with such publications without a warrant.

Impact on the Press:
- The Act severely curtailed the freedom of the Indian press to criticize the government and voice dissenting opinions.
- Many newspapers faced censorship, and journalists were often intimidated or jailed for challenging the colonial administration.

Resistance and Repeal:
- The Vernacular Press Act faced strong opposition from Indian nationalists and journalists who saw it as a tool to suppress the freedom struggle.
- Due to widespread protests and campaigns against the Act, it was eventually repealed in 1882.

Legacy:
- The Vernacular Press Act left a lasting impact on the Indian media landscape and underscored the importance of press freedom in a democratic society.
- It also highlighted the challenges faced by journalists and publishers in fighting for the right to free speech and expression.
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Which of the following was nicknamed “The Gagging Act”:a)Newspaper (Incitement to Offences) Act, 1908b)Rowlatt Act, 1919c)The Defence of India Act, 1915d)Vernacular Press Act, 1878Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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