Legalising Freedom of Press A Critical Review

Abstract

Media plays important role by way of broadcasting 24x7 news channels, science and newlinetechnology channels, sports channels, etc. Amidst all these, as news channels are a newlinemajor form of informing the news events, news stories from nation and the world, newlinethey have been termed as the fourth pillar of democracy. Though the Constitution of newlineIndia did not specifically provide any rights to press, freedom of press was guaranteed newlinetime and again through consistent judicial decisions which specified that press had the newlinesame rights of free speech as any other citizen under the Constitution of India and the newlinesame were also subject to reasonable restrictions. newlineThe Constitution of India provides freedom of speech and expression to all its citizens newlinewhich is subject to reasonable restrictions namely in the interests of sovereignty and newlineintegrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, newlinepublic order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or newlineincitement to an offence. The said restrictions ensure that the freedom of speech and newlineexpression is not transgressed by the citizens in any manner but so utilized so as to newlinebring out the best in them. The said freedom is nowhere specifically mentioned in the newlineConstitution but through various landmark judgments freedom of press has been newlineprovided to press and media. As the use of newly found social media kept increasing newlinedue to its unique concept of sharing live videos, photographs through social newlinenetworking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, etc. the right of newlinefreedom of speech and expression found a new platform to stand on. Anyone and newlineeveryone could now use social media to make himself heard or to give his opinions newlineand share his views with anyone else on a public platform. The widespread use of newlinesocial network also came to be used by news channels.