Rhea Chakraborty vs. State of Bihar & Ors. 2020: Legal Autopsy

Abstract

In a country where using internet is deemed to be a fundamental right, curbing the rights of media is definitely against the well defined principles. India has been a country which has included Freedom of Speech and Expression as a fundamental right and if the Court starts entertaining petitions which are seeking to curb this right, our country will soon become a banana republic like our Neighbor China or Pakistan. When Judiciary has been allowed to decide their own limits, when Legislation is allowed to decide their own limits, when Political Parties are allowed to decide their own limits, when even Entertainment industry is allowed to decide their own limits, this restriction on Media by the judiciary is uncalled for and not in good taste. This order is against the well settled principles led down by the Supreme Court where it has been established that Media is the forth pillar of our democracy and if required, they can monitor themselves on their own. If the court passes orders like this, it could be against the very basics of our democracy and will have a long term implication where the ruling party could use this order in their benefit to lower down the tone of Free Media which in no way is a good sign for democracy.