Press Freedom: The Lifeblood of Indian Democracy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63300/tm12042026.21Keywords:
freedom of the press, Article 19, Indian Constitution, democracy, censorship, fundamental rightsAbstract
Freedom of the press is not separately guaranteed by the Constitution of India; it is implied within the freedom of speech and expression secured to every citizen under Article 19(1)(a) and qualified by the reasonable restrictions of Article 19(2). This paper examines the constitutional foundations of press freedom in India, the judicial reasoning through which the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed the press as an essential pillar of democracy, and the recurring tension between a free press and governmental restraint, most starkly illustrated by the pre-censorship imposed during the National Emergency of 1975. Drawing on constitutional text, landmark judgments, and classical and contemporary theories of free expression, the paper argues that an independent press — free to inform, investigate, expose abuse, and educate — remains indispensable to a functioning democratic order, even as it acknowledges the genuine costs and dangers that unrestrained speech can carry.
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