Right to free speech

Section 124A of IPC has been used to intimidate, silence and punish journalists. Unless the provision is deleted from IPC, it will continue to 'haunt and hinder' the full realisation of the right to free speech and the freedom of press, said the plea in Supreme Court

On Monday a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether right to free speech and expression of persons holding public offices may be curtailed by other fundamental rights.

The Bombay High Court while dealing with a petition seeking actions against the accused for posting inflammatory speech on social media, observed that the right to free speech “cannot be used to sow seeds of hatred and to create disharmony among religious communities.”