Freedom of speech inalienable right, says SC judge

Visakhapatnam: Fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution are inalienable and freedom of speech and expression is a natural human right, said Judge of Supreme Court Lavu Nageswara Rao, while speaking at the profession orientation classes on law, democracy and freedom of speech conducted for junior advocates by the Visakhapatnam Bar Association.

He said right to freedom of speech also includes right to maintain silence and none can force one to speak. The judge dealt upon the origin of freedom of speech and how it was included in the Constitution traced it to the US Constitution. Justice Rao said freedom of press is not part of fundamental rights but it derives its right from Article 19 (1) (A) of the Constitution as working of press involved dissemination of ideas and views of a person.

The judge said the first amendment to the Constitution brought about reasonable restrictions to the freedom of speech. “Freedom of speech brings with certain limitations in respect of matters related to security of state, public order, contempt of court, defamation, friendly relations with foreign countries and incitement to violence,’’ he said and added that several Supreme Court judgments in support of the freedom of right to speech and expression.

Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court Ramesh Ranganathan, speaking on the occasion, exhorted the students to work hard and called upon the senior advocates to impart quality training to the junior advocates so that from the Bar good judges can be obtained.

President of the Bar Association Poosarla Balakrishna, secretary K Jagdeeswara Rao, Principal District Judge PV Jyotirmai, president of Forum of Legal Professionals Kuppili Muralidhar, senior advocates Lanka Jaganadham, Ponnada Raja Rao, Bagadi Tulasidas and a large number of students of different law colleges of city participated in the seminar.