Free speech comes with responsibility; citizens must know its worth: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday observed that citizens must understand the value of freedom of speech and expression and exercise self-regulation, as it deliberated on the need to frame guidelines to address offensive content on social media platforms.

Bench hears plea by Wazahat Khan

A bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and K V Viswanathan was hearing a petition filed by Wazahat Khan, who has been booked under multiple FIRs in states including West Bengal, for allegedly posting objectionable content on platform X against a Hindu deity.

The court had earlier granted interim protection to Khan from coercive action until 14 July. On Monday, the bench extended that protection until the next hearing.

Citizens must know the value of free speech, says court

During the hearing, the bench strongly emphasised the importance of self-restraint in exercising the right to freedom of speech and expression.

Justice Nagarathna stated, “The citizens must know the value of the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression. The State can step in case of violations… Nobody wants the State to step in.”

She further observed, “All this divisive tendency on social media has to be curbed.”

However, the bench clarified that its concern was not about enforcing censorship.

The court remarked, "There should be fraternity among citizens," and indicated that it was considering the possibility of framing guidelines on freedom of speech and expression for citizens.

Reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2)

The bench also underlined the existence of reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) of the Constitution, noting that these limitations on free speech had “rightly been placed.”

In light of the broader issue, the court directed the petitioner’s counsel to assist in addressing the matter of self-regulation of speech by citizens.

FIRs filed across multiple states

Khan had filed a complaint against another social media influencer, Sharmistha Panoli, accusing her of making communal remarks in a video. His lawyer argued in court that offensive comments should not be made in response to similar posts.

Khan was arrested by Kolkata Police on 9 June and later moved the Supreme Court, contending that multiple FIRs and complaints had been filed against him in various states—Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Haryana—for older tweets he had already deleted.

His counsel informed the court that the first FIR, as per Khan, was dated 2 June. Submitting that Khan had already removed the contentious posts and issued an apology, the lawyer remarked that the petitioner was “perhaps reaping what he has sown.”

PTI inputs