The Kerala High Court on Thursday ruled that comments by the media declaring an accused guilty or innocent while a criminal case is still pending does not fall under protected free speech under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India
The issue of exercise of right of freedom of speech and expression by a sitting judge boils down to two questions: (i) is there any specific law imposing any restrictions on his freedom of speech and expression? and (ii) does an interview given to a print or electronic media by him in respect of cases which are being heard by him fall into any of those restrictions?
The Centre has submitted to the Karnataka High Court that American microblogging platform Twitter cannot take protection under Article 19 of the Constitution which ensures freedom of speech and expression.
“It is for the first time that the holding of such a rally is being stopped and it is in contravention to the Right for Freedom of Expression,” he added.
The court made the observation while refusing to grant interim protection from arrest to a woman charged by the Mumbai and Palghar police for allegedly making offensive remarks on Twitter against CM Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya Thackeray.
Discrimination with domestic migrants is most felt by people from the North-east who travel outside the region for employment
