3. Power to regulate prices and pages of newspapers, etc.- (1) If the Central Government is of opinion that for the purpose of preventing unfair competition among newspapers so that newspapers generally and in particular, newspapers with smaller resources and those published in Indian languages may have fuller opportunities of freedom of expression, it is necessary or expedient so to do, the Central Government may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, make an order providing for the regulation of the prices charged for newspapers in relation to their maximum or minimum number of pages, sizes or areas and for the space to be allotted for advertising matter in relation to other matters therein. (2) An order under this section- (a) may be made in relation to newspapers generally or in relation to any class of newspapers; (b) may contain different provisions for daily newspapers and newspapers appearing at other periodical intervals and for different classes of newspapers, and may, in particular, make separate provisions for weekly editions of daily newspapers whether appearing under the same title or not, and also for supplements or special editions of newspapers issued on special occasons;
(c) shall be made relatable to such period of time as the Central Government may deem reasonable;
(d) may provide for incidental or supplementary matters.
(3) An order under this section shall be made with due regard to the need for reasonable flexibility with reference to the fall of news, the flow of advertisements and other matters connected with the normal working of newspapers.
(4) Before making any order under this section, the Central Government shall consult associations of publishers. and such publishers likely to be affected by the order as it may think fit with respect to the action proposed to be taken.
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