Scope Of Freedom Of Speech And Expression In India

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Scope of “Freedom of Speech and Expression” In India: In many cases the Supreme Court of India has reiterated the need to protect the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression. Almost all Constitutions of democratic nations including India have given prime place to the right to free speech. About two decades ago while addressing the Newspaper Society, famous Indian jurist Nani Palkhivala observed: “Freedom is to the Press what oxygen is to the human being; it is the essential condition of its survival. To talk of a democracy without a free press is a contradiction in terms. A free press is not an optional extra in a democracy.”15 The freedom of speech and expression is regarded as the first condition of liberty.17 The Preamble of the Constitution of India itself secures, to the people, the liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. Free speech is one of the most coveted fundamental rights in the world. In India, the freedom of speech and expression is protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India. This is part of the basic fundamental rights. Though the Indian Constitution does not use the expression “freedom of press” in Article 19, but it has been included in one of the guarantees in Article 19(1) (a). This has been done by the wide interpretation given to this right by the able judiciary of the country. Freedom of press has always been regarded as an essential pre-requisite of a democratic form of

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