Freedom of press in India

Freedom of press in India

There was a time, not so far from now, when journalists and newspapers in India could be jailed or sent to prison for reporting the truth. Thankfully, those days are gone and freedom of the press in India is legally protected by the Indian Constitution. Despite that, there are few laws to protect the freedom of the press in India. Professionally, very few Indians have the privilege to be able to write freely without any threats which are why there’s still a major role to play by media organizations and journalists in order to gain public trust and become a reliable source of news and information.

What is Freedom of press?

In the Indian constitution, freedom of the press is treated as part of the freedom of speech and expression.

It is guaranteed as a fundamental right under Article 19(1) (a).

The freedom of press is a 'right-holder', who can be either an individual, media outlet or publishing house.

The law also recognises a third party, any person involved in publishing, including printers, distributors and book sellers.

Restrictions on the freedom of press

The Constitution of India provides the right of freedom, given in article 19 with the view of guaranteeing individual rights that were considered vital by the framers of the constitution. The restrictions that apply to the “freedom of speech and expression” also apply to the “freedom of press and media”. Article 19(2), provides reasonable restrictions on the following grounds:- In the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India. Security of the state, public order, decency, or morality, or in relation to contempt of courts, defamation.

Importance of freedom of press

Freedom of press is an important aspect of democracy. It is the voice of those individuals who may not hold a public office. Some core importance of freedom of press are-

• It acts as a check on Government and Administrators.
• It works towards strengthening the sovereignty and integrity of a nation.
• It helps in building an environment where the people of the country can cultivate unity and harmony.
• A free press is fundamental to a democratic society
• The press provides the platform for a multiplicity of voices to be heard.
• At national, regional and local level, it is the public’s watchdog, activist and guardian as well as educator, entertainer and contemporary chronicler.
• It is helpful in strengthening democracy.
• In India, the media have played a key role in providing information to the people about social and economic evils.

No one can deny the importance of freedom of press in ensuring the proper functioning of a democracy. From creating awareness about social evils like corruption and atrocities to exposing the flaws in current government set up, the role of the press is highly crucial. Without the free flow of information, democracy cannot survive.