Interrogating the scope of the right to freedom of speech and expression

Abstract

In every democratic setting, the freedom to express oneself is held as the prerequisite of true liberty. India is a home to people from different nationalities. It is famous as an ideal democratic state and is secular in nature. However, most non citizens living in the country feel that something is not right with Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India which expressly guarantees freedom of speech and expression only to the citizens of India without express mention of non-citizens. The Courts have upheld the provision by holding that foreigners are not entitled to the right to freedom of speech and expression. Consequently, the non citizens are silently clamouring for the amendment of the said provision in order to avail them the protection of the law in that regard. Indian citizens argue that to extend the enjoyment of the rights available to Indians to everyone else is to depreciate the value which Indian citizens have by virtue of their citizenship. study unearths the reasons for such a denial and its impact on the non citizens.