scorecardresearch
Add as a preferred source on Google
Friday, February 20, 2026
TopicFreedom of speech

Topic: Freedom of speech

How Nehru defended restrictions on freedom of speech and the press

On 29 May 1951, Jawaharlal Nehru defended adding 'reasonable restrictions' to Article 19, arguing that free speech must be balanced with national security and unity.

‘It’s one thing to be woke but…’ Supreme Court tells ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ makers to change film’s title

SC was hearing a PIL that demanded a stay on the release of the movie, claiming that it promotes stereotyping, and hurts the dignity and sentiments of Brahmins.

Is freedom of speech a dangerous idea? JLF closing panel couldn’t find an answer

At the closing debate of JLF, Pavan K Varma posed a question that had the crowd in an uproar. ‘Would you want to be in jail without bail,’ he said, referring to Umar Khalid.

Nothing suits dictatorship more than a subservient judiciary: Justice HR Khanna

The totalitarian states indeed are never tired of claiming a legal basis for their action and are too eager to make use of conventional legal institutions to further their ends, said Justice HR Khanna in 1980.

Hearing ‘India’s Got Latent’ case, SC says right to dignity greater than right to free speech

New Delhi: In a very significant development, the top court Tuesday said that the right to live with dignity is more important than the...

The world sees Ali Khan Mahmudabad’s arrest first, not all-party delegations

Are we saying that, as a nation, we can’t handle different ideas? That we're too fragile to disagree? If free speech comes with warnings about timing and tone, then is it really free?

Delhi scholars decry Mahmudabad’s arrest. ‘If I had a Muslim name, I’d be arrested too’

'The victims of the Pahalgam massacre are being insulted by the actions taken against Mahmudabad,' said the president of the Federation of Central University Teachers Association.

There’s a gap between what Ali Khan Mahmudabad said and what he’s accused of—basic literacy

Our Foreign Secretary said citizens criticising their own government is the hallmark of any open and functioning democracy. And yet here we are.

Indian taxpayers are paying for a clownish police investigation into Kunal Kamra

The Constitution was not written to prevent uncles and aunties from being shocked or offended.

An Eid kit from BJP & the do’s and don’t’s of free speech

The best cartoons of the day, chosen by the editors at ThePrint.

On Camera

5 yrs of Ukraine war—why Delhi must de-hyphenate Moscow from the West

As harsh winter segues into early spring, US-backed negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva have ended without a breakthrough, and expectedly so. In...

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

Embraer moves full throttle in pursuit of IAF contract, ties up with Hindalco after Adani

IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.