Safeguarding media freedom

Supreme Court’s judgment on Wednesday quashing a ban on a Kerala television channel

In upholding the primacy of free speech in a society where ad-hominem attacks are now common, the SC marks a landmark moment

In an atmosphere where criticism of individuals or political positions is often conflated with attacks on the State and legal procedures and gaps in statutes are weaponised to keep people not convicted of any crimes behind bars, the Supreme Court’s judgment on Wednesday quashing a ban on a Kerala television channel comes as a breath of fresh air. The court’s firm statements upholding the primacy of freedom of speech and free press should also serve as an antidote to the troubling trend of politicians with thin skins acting in collusion with pliant law enforcement establishments to file cases for perceived slights, critiques, or simply refusals to toe the line.