Freedom of Speech and Expression
Freedom of Speech and Expression
Freedom of Speech and Expression
Speech is God's gift to mankind. Through speech a human being conveys his thoughts, sentiments and feeling to others.
Freedom of speech and expression is thus a natural right, which a human being acquires on birth. It is, therefore, a basic
right. "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the right includes freedom to hold opinions without
interference and to seek and receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers"
proclaims the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights (1948). The people of India declared in the Preamble of the
Constitution, which they gave unto themselves their resolve to secure to all the citizens liberty of thought and expression.
This resolve is reflected in Article 19(1) (a) which is one of the Articles found in Part III of the Constitution, which
enumerates the Fundamental Rights.
Man as rational being desires to do many things, but in a civil society his desires have to be controlled, regulated and
reconciled with the exercise of similar desires by other individuals. The guarantee of each of the above right is, therefore,
restricted by the Constitution in the larger interest of the community. The right to freedom of speech and expression is
subject to limitations imposed under Article 19(2).
Public order as a ground of imposing restrictions was added by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951. Public
order is something more than ordinary maintenance of law and order. Public order in the present context is synonymous
with public peace, safety and tranquility.
Government should be more cautious while levying taxes on matters of concerning newspaper industry than while
levying taxes on other matters.