Right of Media
By Ashok Priyadarshi
Much is being talked about the Rights of the media all around the globe. The imposing of censorship on Media has either been decried or discussed in the United Nations also. The recent example is the censorship imposed by Pakistan on the grounds of internal security and its withdrawal after some time as it was being discussed and questioned internationally. Today the Right of the media is taken to be the right to print and publish without the interference or restriction on the press by the government of country, within the ambit of its
constitution and laws framed therein. The supporters of the Right of the media in India have correctly searched it in Article 19 (1) (a) of the India Constitution wherein the freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed as a fundamental rights. It is generally believed that by writing records the idea is in a permanent form and this type of expression invites more discussions and spelling out of the ideas. The argument for the right of media states that it not only includes the right of receiving
information but also giving information, which can only be done by a free press and independent media, as it helps in forming a public opinion. A public opinion has a greater value in a democratic setup as it has been opined by the Supreme Court of the United States Of America that authority is to be controlled by public opinion and not public opinion by the authority. A section believes that the right of information either giving or receiving could be restricted on the grounds specified by the government under the framed laws. It is also arguement that voice must not be raised on a high peach if the right of the media is restricted after accessing the effect of the information on the masses and its consequences thereof. LAWS RELATING THE PRESS 1.CONSTITUTION OF INDIA 2.INDIAN PENAL CODE,1860 3.CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE,1973 4.CIVIL LAW OF DEFAMATION 5.HINDU MARRIAGE ACT,1955 6.INDIAN POST OFFICES ACT,1922 7.OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT,1923 8.THE EMBLEMS NAMES (PREVENTION OF IMPROPER USE) ACT,1950 9.REPRESENTATIVES OF PEOPLE ACT,1951 10.DELIVERY OF BOOKS AND NEWS PAPERS (PUBLIC LIBRARIES) ACT,1954 11.THE DRUGS & MAGIC REMEDIES (OBJECTIONABLE ADVERTISEMENT) ACT 12.THE PRIZE COMPETITION ACT,1955 13.THE INDIAN TELEGRAPH ACT,1885 14.YOUNG PERSONS (HARMFUL PUBLICATION) ACT 1956 15.COPY RIGHT ACT,1957 16.JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT, 1986 17.ATOMIC ENERGY ACT,1962 18.CUSTOMS ACT,1962 19.THE UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES (PREVENTION) ACT,1967 20.PRESS COUNCIL ACT,1978 21.DRAMATIC PROFORMANCE ACT,1876 22.CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT. 23.THE PRESS AND REGISTRATION OF BOOKS ACT,1867 1. AIR 1995 SC 1236 2. (1994) 6 SCC 632