3/ The court before which the application is lodged shall give its decision within ten days
from the day the petition is submitted to it however during election period the court shall
pronounce its decision within twenty four hours
4) The court may when the responsible person under Article 43 refuses to comply with its
order to insert the reply render him liable to punishment. .
5) The provisions of this article shall not affect the provision of Article 2049 of the civil code.
6) The provisions sub article (1) to (5) are applicable only if the request for insertion of a
reply is made to the mass media within three months from the day the report which has
given rise to it was published or went on air.
7)The provisions of this article shall mutatis mutandis apply to enforce the right of a person
to correct any incorrectly reported factual statement regarding him.
PART FIVE Taking lawful measures
41. liability
1) The media establishment may incur joint criminal or civil liability with the responsible
person under Article 41 of the Penal Code for a criminal offence committed through the
mass media or a civil damage caused by the media
2) In an action for defamation through the mass media the court may award, having regard
to the seriousness of the moral damage, compensation up to 1000,000 birr having regard to
the seriousness of the damage.
3/ In case of conflict between the provisions of the Penal Code and the provisions of this
Proclamation under Part 5 and 6 the latter shall prevail
4/ A claim for damage caused by the mass media may be made even if the criminal
prosecution under this Proclamation is barred by the period of limitation or the prosecution
is defeated .
42. Impounding
1/ Notwithstanding any contrary provision in any other law, no periodical or book shall be
impounded except as provided for in this article.
2/ where The Federal or Regional public prosecutor ,as the case may be , has sufficient
reason to believe that a periodical or a book which is about to be disseminated contains
illegal matter which would, if disseminated, lead to a clear and present grave danger to the