- The Indian Constitution makes it abundantly clear that press freedom should be upheld without the instruments of the government machinery coming in the way of scuttling it. Of course, the Indian democratic form of government is for the people, by the people, and of the people, where the Constitutionally mandated rights are sacrosanct. The executive, the legislature, and the judiciary have been entrusted with the mandate of protecting the Constitution in letter and in spirit diligently. The three critical pillars of the Constitution ensure that sanctity is not violated. However, over-activism sometimes from one of the pillars tends to overlap into one another’s territory, leading to friction of sorts. And then there is the fourth estate, the press.
PC: Chegg India
- Press freedom is one such domain that often finds itself in the news because the government machinery attempts to impose restrictions, citing various reasons. Thankfully, the higher judiciary, led by the Supreme Court, steps in to address the glaring anomaly. While the SC upholds press freedom, the governments find it too easy to ignore constitutional provisions. As reported recently, revoking the Punjab government’s shutdown of a daily’s printing press in Ludhiana, for alleged discovery of liquor bottles on premises, the SC said – don’t hamper publishing of the newspaper (Punjab Kesari), and it shall continue to function uninterruptedly. Leave aside the merits of the case, the newspaper has argued its reports critical of govt invited the state action.
PC: Live Law
- Of course, the Punjab & Haryana HC will decide on the matter. What is to be noted is the message SC underscored. Regardless of the issue at hand, govt crackdowns on press freedom – by stopping the press, obstructing newspaper distribution, cancelling ads, harassing journalists, etc. – impede the public’s right to know. The point is, trying to micromanage news gathering, restricting access, and increasing restrictions, all attempts to control media make govts look guilty. In 2013, the Press Council of India called crude attempts of fettering media by stopping ads, over reports critical of govt pettiness of mind. The Ludhiana case is clearly on those lines. Criticizing govts is constitutionally protected. All govts know this.
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PC: CivilsDaily
- Yet, Punjab’s latest move is one among many instances of press freedom being trampled across the country. Reporters are routinely intimidated, denied access, cut off, threatened, and harassed. In an ongoing sidebar, at least four Kashmir-based journalists, including veteran reporters from national media, have been summoned by J&K police in what political parties have roundly criticized as attempts to curb press freedom. A few months ago, Punjab police carried out sudden checks of newspaper deliveries and held up vehicles, delaying distribution. That morning’s big local story was Kejriwal’s new house in the state. The fourth estate, the press, derives its power entirely from the Articles guaranteeing freedom of speech. This should be protected and upheld.
