296. In his reply, the representative of the State party explained that right to privacy was governed by the Constitution and by relevant civil personal information could be collected criminal laws. Data concerning the Census Act of 1948 and the Registration of Births and Death6 Act of Information collected under those Acts was Confidential ana was currently being computerieed. Freedom of reli&on endon , ra&J of Dr- for war the and under 1969. UUI or rem 291. With reference to that i66uer members of the Committee inquirea what laws and regulations governed the recognition of religions or religious sects by public authorities and what control6 were exercised on the freedom of the press and the mass media. Further information was also requested on the degree of access to official information enjoyed by the general public and the media, especially in view of the alleged difficulties experienced by journalists in visiting Kashmir and in covering the predicament of the Naga people. 298. In his reply, the representative of the State party said that India was a secular democratic republic consisting of several communities with different religious faith6 and beliefs. The Constitution and other relevant laws protected the religious rights of all persons. Freedom of the press and the mass media were covered under article 19 of the Constitution and were subject to reasonable restrictions. The Press Council of India, a body constituted under the Press Council Act of 1910, was responsible for preserving the freedom of the press, Since the members of the Press Council were involved in the press and in newspaper publishing, any restrictions on the freedom of the press coula be said to be self-imposed. a 299. Under the Cinematographic Act of 1952 , any person desiring to exhibit film had to apply to tire Cinematographic Board for permission. A film would not be certified if it presented a misleading image of the social, cultural or political institutions of India, or if it ran counter, &a-, to the interest6 of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, public order, decency or morality, In 1990, the Parliament had passed the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act which sol%ght to take the mass media away from full government control. In connection with thert issue, members of the Committee wished to receive information about the number, membership, organisation and effectiveness of trade unions in India. 300. 301. In hi6 reply, the representative of the State party said that the Central Trade Union Organieations included more than 10,000 unions and that the membership of trade union6 wa6 approximately 10.25 million. Protection of the fad&an8 302. With regard to that issue, member6 of the Committee wished to receive information on the main feature6 of the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act of 19871 on any reported cases of sati since the passage of the Acts on the Dowry -74-