NORTH-WEST FRONTIER 1[.....] RESTRICTING THE SALE OF THE HOLY QURAN ACT, 1939. ACT XXIV OF 1939.

THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER 1[.....] RESTRICTING
THE SALE OF THE HOLY QURAN ACT, 1939.
ACT XXIV OF 1939.

(Received the assent of the Governor on the 5th December, 1939).

An Act to Restrict the Sale of the Holy Quran.

Preamble.

WHEREAS it has been observed that the Holy Quran when printed and published by persons other than Muslims is found replete with errors, and that it does not receive the same respect and regard in the course of its handling for sale or other­wise as is due to it from the Muslim view point, and thus the re­ligious susceptibilities of the Muslim are injured though unin­tentionally and that it is, therefore, expedient to make provisions for the printing and selling of the Holy Quran by Muslim only, it is hereby enacted as follows:—

Title, Commencement and extent.

1. (i) This Act may be called "The North-West Frontier ![.. ,... ] Restricting the Sale of the Holy Quran Act. 1939".

(ii) It shall come into force on such date as the Provincial Government may, by notification, direct.

(iii) It shall extend to the whole of the 2North-\Vest Fron­tier 1[...... ].

Definition.

"Holy Quran" shall include any part of the Quran, but shall not include any verse or verses if printed or pub­lished for purposes of quotation or reference.

Penalty for printing, etc. of Holy Quran by non-Muslim.

3. If any person other than a Muslim prints, publishes, or sells or causes to be printed, published or sold the Holy Quran he shall on conviction be liable to a line which may extend to Rs. 1,000 or in default to undergo imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year:

1.     The word "Province " omitted by  W. P'.   Laws (Adaptation) Order. 1964,   Part—III.

2.       Now to be construed as referring to be districts of Bannu Dera Ismail Khan, Hazara. Kohat, Mardan and Peshawar vide W.P. Act XVI of 1957, s. 3 (1). Schedule-1.
SALE OF THE HOLY QURAN ACT, 1939.

Provided that the provision of this section shall not apply in the case of a person, who before the passing of this Act has copies of the Holy Quran in stock for sale and which he must dis­pose of within one year of the passing of this Act. After the lapse of the said one year this proviso will not remain operative at all.

4. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Code of the Criminal Procedure, 1898, the offences under this Act shall be cognizable and shall be tried by a Magistrate of the 1st Class only.