Express View on SC’s Direction to Educate Police on Freedom of Speech: Let the People Speak
Editorial | 11 March 2024
That the right to dissent is the first principle of a vibrant democracy is a truth frequently undermined in recent years. But the Supreme Court’s (SC) reminder that every criticism of the state, especially when within legitimate bounds, does not amount to offence, reinforces constitutional values at a time when debate and dissent are routinely stifled, citing hurt sentiments, national security or impediments to communal harmony.
The Court’s direction to “enlighten and educate our police machinery on the concept of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution” underscores another crucial point: The enforcement agency’s conflation of lawful exercise of dissent with incitement cannot infringe on individual liberty….