Section 34 of The Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990
Every rule and every regulation made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or regulation, or both Houses agree that the rule or regulation should not be made, the rule or regulation shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule or regulation.
Summary
- This laying must occur as soon as possible after the rule or regulation is made.
- The rule or regulation must be laid while Parliament is in session for a total period of thirty days.
- The thirty-day period can be comprised within a single session, or across two or more successive sessions.
- If both Houses agree to modify or reject the rule or regulation before the expiry of the session immediately following the session(s) in which it was laid, it will only have effect in the modified form or have no effect at all.
- Any such modification or annulment by Parliament is without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule or regulation.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Who must review the rules and regulations made under the Prasar Bharati Act?
Each House of Parliament must review every rule and regulation made under the Act.
2. How long must rules and regulations remain laid before Parliament?
They must be laid before Parliament for a total period of thirty days, which can be completed in one session or across two or more successive sessions.
3. What happens if both Houses of Parliament agree to change or cancel a rule or regulation?
If both Houses agree to make a modification, the rule or regulation will only have effect in that modified form. If both agree that it should not be made, the rule or regulation will have no effect at all.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 34 of The Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990, what is the total period for which every rule and regulation must be laid before each House of Parliament?
Q2.Under Section 34 of The Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990, how can the mandatory thirty-day parliamentary laying period be completed?
Q3.Under Section 34 of The Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990, by what deadline must both Houses of Parliament agree to modify or annul a rule or regulation?
Q4.Suppose the Corporation collects advertisement fees under a regulation, but Parliament later agrees to annul that regulation under Section 34 of The Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990. What is the legal status of the fees collected before the annulment?