Bennet, Coleman & Co vs Union of India case in early 1970s deals with
- Pre-censorship
- Journalist wages
- Editorial perspective
- Newsprint policy
Correct Ans: (D)
Explanation:
The Bennet, Coleman & Co vs Union of India case was a major turning point in Indian media history. During the early 1970s, the Indian government introduced a strict newsprint policy. It restricted how much paper each publication could use. This, in effect, limited the size and reach of major newspapers.
Naturally, Bennet, Coleman & Co, which owned The Times of India, challenged this move. They argued that the policy directly hurt their freedom to publish, expand, and share diverse opinions. Moreover, it affected their readers’ right to receive information.
The case reached the Supreme Court of India, which took a strong stand. The court ruled that the government’s policy violated Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. This article protects the freedom of speech and expression. Therefore, even though the government didn’t directly censor content, it indirectly controlled it by limiting resources. That was unacceptable.
As a result, the court made it clear: no policy should restrict a publication’s independence. The decision was not just a win for one company. Instead, it protected the entire media landscape from excessive government control.
In conclusion, this case proved that the freedom to publish must remain untouched, even by administrative rules. That’s why this landmark battle focused squarely on the newsprint policy, making option D the correct choice.
