Censorship of Films Act, 1923

Establishment of Censorship of Films Appeal Board.

3.—(1) There shall be established a Censorship of Films Appeal Board consisting of nine Commissioners of whom one shall be Chairman.

(2) The members of the Appeal Board shall hold office for five years from the date of their appointment and shall, at the end of any such term of office, be eligible for re-appointment.

(3) The Minister shall as soon as may be after the passing of this Act and thereafter as occasion arises appoint fit persons to be members of the Appeal Board.

(4) Whenever any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Appeal Board by reason of the death, becoming disqualified or resignation of a member before the expiration of his term of office, the Minister shall appoint a fit person to fill such vacancy, but the person so appointed shall hold office only for the residue of the term of office of the member whose death, becoming disqualified or resignation occasioned such vacancy.

(5) The Minister shall from time to time as occasion arises nominate one of the members of the Appeal Board to be Chairman thereof.

(6) Four members of the Appeal Board personally present shall form a quorum for the hearing of appeals, and the decision of the majority of the members present shall be the decision of the Appeal Board, save that whenever such majority is less than four, or the members present are equally divided, the appeal shall be re-heard in the presence of not less than seven members of the Appeal Board, and the decision of the majority of the members present at such re-hearing shall be the decision of the Appeal Board, but if, on such re-hearing, the members present are equally divided, the decision of the Official Censor shall be affirmed.

(7) The Appeal Board may act for all purposes notwithstanding the existence of not more than two vacancies in its membership.

(8) A person shall be disqualified for being a member of the Appeal Board if he has, directly or indirectly, any share or interest in any Company or undertaking, having as its object or one of its objects the exhibition for profit of pictures by means of a cinematograph or similar apparatus, or the production of pictures capable of being so exhibited.