Tag: Freedom of Speech

The Supreme Court of India (the "Supreme Court") passed two interim orders in October 2024, both of which ruled in favour of journalists against whom FIRs have been filed. In both instances, the FIRs were registered against the journalists for writing articles, alleging that the Uttar Pradesh Government favours individuals from certain castes for their appointment to administrative posts. ......

On March 22, 2024, a 3 (three) judge bench of the Supreme Court passed an order reiterating the importance of freedom of speech and expression, granted by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India, in relation to articles published by media platforms. ...

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (“MIB”) reportedly directed the online video-sharing platform, YouTube to remove 45 videos from 10 channels hosted on its website on September 23, 2022 under the provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules, 2021”). ......

The law should not be used in a manner that has chilling effects on the ‘freedom of speech and expression’, observed the Supreme Court of India in S. Khushboo v. Kanniammal . Based on the same rationale, a petition has been filed by journalists Kishorechandra Wangkemcha and Kanhaiya Lal Shukla (“Petitioners”), for challenging Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (“IPC”) which penalises the crime of ‘sedition’ (“Petition”). ......