In a significant development, the Supreme Court has issued a statement condemning the practice of filing criminal cases against journalists for publishing articles critical of the government. The court emphasized that such actions infringe upon freedom of speech and expression.
The remarks came during the hearing of a case involving journalist Abhishek Upadhyay from Uttar Pradesh, who faced multiple criminal charges after writing a story regarding caste alignments within the government administration. In light of these allegations, Upadhyay approached the Supreme Court, requesting the dismissal of the cases against him.
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court granted Upadhyay interim protection, stating that journalists should not face criminal charges simply for expressing criticism of the government. The court highlighted the necessity of respecting freedom of expression in democratic societies and affirmed that Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution provides safeguards for the rights of journalists.
The court further clarified that criticism of the government does not warrant criminal prosecution, and it issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the matter. The next hearing has been scheduled for November 5.