Free Speech vs Censorship: Coexistence Amidst Disharmony

This write up seeks to highlight the need for censorship despite the public sentiment being increasingly inclined towards freedom of speech.

Free speech and censorship are concepts that evade different spheres of human activity - creative expression, political expression, and even religious expression. However, the forms of censorship that have become most relevant in an increasingly polarized country like ours is the censorship of political statements made with a tendency to induce religious sentiments. It cannot be denied that free speech is the bedrock of any democratic setup. On the other hand, censorship is an instrument that the government uses to control any expression that would cause detriment to the public. It is simply the reiteration of the common principle that public good always outweighs individual prosperity.

Free speech is not a concept that is too difficult to be grasped. As the words suggest, it clearly implies the freedom to speak about anything and anywhere. However, one can only imagine how disastrous the consequences would be if a person would speak out his mind with no or little respect towards the sentiments of another. But again, one might question - why does the perception of one's statement restrain one from his exercising his right to free speech? The answer to this lies in the legal and moral obligation to treat each fellow citizen with respect- respect to his background, race, and beliefs. And this obligation arises from the Fundamental Duties of our Constitution. Article 51A (e) of the constitution states:

(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.

So when does the need for censorship arise? It's only when individuals fail to exercise their part of the duty, that the government steps in. This should be viewed in the broader role that government plays in maintaining peace and harmony within a country. I don't think that the mere interference of the government can be validly degraded or even justified as absolutely unnecessary. The reason for the many debates surrounding censorship is the absence of any yardstick explaining the extent to which such a power can be exercised. In a democracy where each activity of the government is held accountable and put up for close scrutiny, the public will naturally expect the exercise of all powers to be fair and unambiguous.

Therefore, in my understanding of the whole free speech v/s censorship encounter, if the government is desirous of gaining public confidence in its' actions then it's high time that it shall lay down certain principles,, guidelines or statutory provisions that distinctly put forth the expanse of their power to censorship.