As per the Constitution of India, the State can impose reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression on which o…

Question

As per the Constitution of India, the State can impose reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression on which of the following grounds?

I. Sovereignty and integrity of India

II. Public Order

III. Contempt of Court

IV. Defamation

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. A. I and III only
2. B. I, II and IV only
3. C. II and IV only
4. D. I, II, III and IV (Correct answer)

Correct Answer

Option D — I, II, III and IV

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is I, II, III and IV.

Key Points

• Article 19(2) lists valid grounds for restricting freedom of speech and expression.
• All four mentioned — sovereignty and integrity of India (I), public order (II), contempt of court (III), and defamation (IV) — are explicitly listed under Article 19(2).
• Additional grounds include security of state, friendly relations with foreign states, decency/morality, and incitement to offences.

Additional Information

• Article 19(1)(a) guarantees freedom of speech and expression; Article 19(2) lists the eight grounds on which reasonable restrictions may be imposed.
• The full list: sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, contempt of court, defamation, and incitement to an offence.
• Two were added by amendment: public order and friendly relations with foreign States by the First Amendment (1951), and sovereignty and integrity of India by the Sixteenth Amendment (1963).
• The restriction must be reasonable and imposed by law — an executive order alone will not do — and reasonableness is subject to judicial review, as in *Shreya Singhal v. Union of India* (2015), which struck down Section 66A of the IT Act.