Freedom of expression is the lifeline of democracy: Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy

“Democracy cannot survive without freedom of expression”, opined former Supreme Court Judge Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy, while stressing that the right to free speech is not just a legal concept but a fundamental truth of life.

Delivering the 6th C. Raghavachari Memorial Lecture on the theme “Mass Media and the Judiciary”, at the Press Club in Hyderabad, organised by the C. Raghavachari Memorial Trust on Saturday, he asserted that freedom of expression forms the foundation of democracy.

“Without freedom of expression, democracy loses its essence. If it is completely controlled, democracy becomes hollow,” he observed.

Justice Reddy said that governments may attempt control, but people and the courts have always protected press freedom. Referring to Article 19(1), he recalled how Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s government attempted to introduce “reasonable restrictions” through constitutional amendments, but the courts continued to safeguard free speech.

He also recalled how the Supreme Court had struck down government attempts to restrict newspaper circulation and quoted John Milton, who described freedom of expression as an inseparable part of human rights.

Commenting on the current media landscape, he said that social media was no longer in the hands of the media fraternity. “A handful of the world’s wealthy elites now control social media,” he reminded, adding that the issue of regulation is currently under discussion in the Supreme Court, following a recent Bombay High Court judgment.

Justice Reddy recalled that Raghavachari had served as an editor for over three decades, living modestly with a salary of only ₹5,000 and commuting by rickshaw. “He was an editor without earnings, a symbol of values, commitment, and integrity,” he remarked.

Telangana Media Academy Chairman K. Srinivas Reddy said that Dr. B R Ambedkar opposed including media within the constitutional framework, as he wanted it to remain free to represent public opinion.

A large gathering of eminent personalities from the fields of journalism, literature, and law were present.