From the proceedings of Bombay Legislative council, July 1935
An official Bill prohibiting the publication in the newspapers of the names, addresses, pictures and other details concerning a child or young person involved in offences was passed during the July session of the Bombay Legislative Council. The object of the bill was to prevent permanent injury that may be caused to the welfare of a child or young person by such publication. The punishment for contravening the provisions of the bill was imprisonment of either description not exceeding two months or fine or both.
The Bill laid down: “No report in any newspaper or news-sheet of any offence shall disclose the name, address or school or include any particulars of any offence by or against a child or young person or of any proceedings in any court relating to such offence calculated to lead to the identification of any such child or young person, nor shall any picture be published as being or including a picture of any such child or young person”.
Mr. L.R Gokhale moved an amendment that the following words be added to the clause: “ If such publication is against the welfare of a child or young person and likely to cause permanent injury to such child or young person”. He explained that as the Bill stood, even information relating to the offence against a child, such as the abduction of a child or thieving purpose, in which case the publication would not cause any injury to the welfare of the child, would come under purview of the Bill. The amendment was, however lost. (Bombay Legislative council, July 1935)