Supreme Court: No criminal cases against journalists for criticism of government

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that governments should not file criminal cases against journalists solely because their writings are perceived as critical of the administration.

A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti emphasized that freedom of expression, enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, protects journalists in India.

The court made this observation while hearing a petition from journalist Abhishek Upadhyay, who sought to quash an FIR lodged against him in Uttar Pradesh. The FIR was filed after he published a report on caste dynamics within the state’s general administration.

“Criticism of the government through journalistic writings should not lead to criminal cases against the author,” the bench stated in its order.

The court also issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government, seeking its response, and ordered that no coercive action be taken against Upadhyay in the interim. The case is scheduled for its next hearing in four weeks.