Adam's gag

The company government was very much aware of the

fact that the press was eager to establish its freedom
by
exposing the misrule of the government. In 1823 after the
departure of Warren Hastings came general John Adam as
the Governor General. Adam was
ruthless in controlling
the voice of the press. He took initiative to promulgate an
ordiance that tried to control the
who criticised the press particularly those
government.
first Press Act after the
This Act was probably the
press regulations of 1799, declared
under the patronage of Lord
The Act imposed Wellesley.
restricitons on the press in Some
some
 Communication
to Journalism
and Mass
Introduction
84
hatred and
tried to bring the government into
matters that
and to distrub the peace,
harmony and good
contempt, to regulate
It was deemed expedient
order of the society.
the settlement of Bengal
the printingand publications within
Presidency.
that printers and publishers
It was stipulated in this Act
and pamphlets were
of newspapers, magazines, books
The affidavit
required to make affidavit before a magistrate.
would contain necessary information about the publication.
as well as
Providing this information in the form of affidavit
obtainting licence was made mandatory.
The ordinance evoked strong protest from the educated
middle class all over Bengal. Rammohan Roy submitted to
the Supreme Court a petition which was signed by the
leading figures like Dwarakanath Tagore, Hara Chandra
Ghosh and Prasanna Kumar Tagore. In protest Rammohan
Roy immediately closed down his paper, Mirat-UI-Akhbar.