NEW DELHI: Freedom of press is the “mother of all liberties” in a democratic society and the media should have its own guidelines for self-regulation, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra said today.
The CJI was delivering the presidential address at a function organised by the International Law Association (ILA), where eminent jurist N R Madhava Menon delivered a lecture on “Courts, Media and Fair Trial Guarantee”.
Justice Misra said freedom of speech played a pivotal role in generating public opinion in matters of national importance, adding that it created an “informed citizenry”.
“Freedom of press in a democratic society is the mother of all liberties. There is no doubt it is one of the most cherished and valuable rights guaranteed under the Constitution. It includes the right to know and the right to inform.
“I am of the firm belief that there should be no guidelines (for the media). Let them frame their own guidelines and be guided by that. Nothing can serve better than individual or collective guidelines of the press. There should not be any imposition, but there should be some kind of self-restriction,” he added. (AGENCIES)
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