SAKAL PAPERS (P) LTD., AND OTHERS versus THE UNION OF INDIA

SAKAL PAPERS (P) LTD., AND OTHERS versus THE UNION OF INDIA

The impugned Act and Order directly interfere with freedom of speech and expression by restricting the circulation and content of newspapers. Such restrictions cannot be justified under Article 19(2) and constitute an unconstitutional violation of Article 19(1)(a).

Parties
Petitioner: Sakal Papers (P) Ltd.; Respondent: Union of India; Petitioner: R. Ganapathy Iyer; Petitioner: S. S. Shukla; Petitioner: G. Gopalakrishnan; Respondent: B. Sen; Respondent: R.H. Dhebar; Respondent: T. M. Sen; Respondent: H.P. Nathwani; Respondent: J. B. Jadachanji; Respondent: S. N. Andley; Respondent: Rameshwar Nath; Respondent: P. L. Vohra; Respondent: K. R. Ghoudhri; Intervener: S. T. Desai; Intervener: E. Udayarathnam; Intervener: A. G. Ratnaparkhi; Intervener: W. S. Barlingay
Jurisdiction
India
Judgment Date
25 September 1961
Procedural Posture
Writ Petition / Final Disposition
Outcome
petition allowed
Legal Topics
Freedom of Speech and Expression, Constitutionality of Statutes, Press Regulation
Constitutional Law Media Law Freedom of Speech and Expression Constitutionality of Statutes Press Regulation

Case Brief

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Parties

Sakal Papers (P) Ltd.

Petitioner

Union of India

Respondent

R. Ganapathy Iyer

Petitioner

S. S. Shukla

Petitioner

G. Gopalakrishnan

Petitioner

B. Sen

Respondent

R.H. Dhebar

Respondent

T. M. Sen

Respondent

H.P. Nathwani

Respondent

J. B. Jadachanji

Respondent

S. N. Andley

Respondent

Rameshwar Nath

Respondent

P. L. Vohra

Respondent

K. R. Ghoudhri

Respondent

S. T. Desai

Intervener

E. Udayarathnam

Intervener

A. G. Ratnaparkhi

Intervener

W. S. Barlingay

Intervener

Procedural Posture

Writ Petition / Final Disposition

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Newspaper (Price and Page) Act, 1956 and Daily Newspapers (Price and Page) Order, 1960 infringe the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

Ratio Decidendi

The impugned Act and Order directly interfere with freedom of speech and expression by restricting the circulation and content of newspapers. Such restrictions cannot be justified under Article 19(2) and constitute an unconstitutional violation of Article 19(1)(a).

Court Disposition

petition allowed

Orders

  • Section 3(1) of the Act held unconstitutional.
  • The Daily Newspapers (Price and Page) Order, 1960 is unconstitutional.