Stay updated with the latest freedom-of-speech news, articles, and insights from trusted sources. Explore in-depth coverage and expert analysis on freedom-of-speech topics.
New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed the criminal defamation complaint filed by ex-AAP MLA Somnath Bharti's wife against Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, saying there was no imputation against the complainant. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal described the complaint as a 29-letter word "floccinaucinihilipilification", meaning something valueless or worthless, while observing that the 'complaint is nothing but the word, wherein a valueless or worthless ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has directed removal of 'defamatory' posts over the alleged molestation of a journalist on a flight, saying that using social media to circulate the allegations and reveal the identity of the perpetrator before any formal investigation was a severe transgression of his fundamental right to live with dignity and fair trial. Justice Vikas Mahajan, in an interim order passed on a lawsuit by the man, asked the woman journalist as well as certain online pl ...Read More >
Mumbai, March 31: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has proposed significant amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The draft rules aim to expand regulatory oversight to include news and current affairs content shared by social media users who are not registered publishers. By bringing user-generated news dissemination under the Digital Media Ethics Code, the government seeks to ensure that indivi ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Amid opposition from BJP and CPI MLAs and suggestions from Congress members, the Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026 was referred to an Assembly Select Committee on Monday. Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, on behalf of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, moved a motion to take up and pass the bill. After discussion, panel Speaker Revuri Prakash Reddy announced that it was being sent to the Select Committee. BJP and CPI members opposed the bill, while some Congress MLA ...Read More >
The Congress government, led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, introduced the Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026, in the Legislative Assembly on Sunday. As per the Bill, hate crimes can be punished with a minimum jail term of one year and a maximum of seven years with a fine of Rs 50,000. For a repeat offender, the minimum term of imprisonment will be two years, and it can go up to a maximum of 10 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Courts may also award adequate compensa ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangan) [India], March 31 (ANI): BRS leader Ravula Sridhar Reddy on Tuesday criticised the proposed Hate Speech & Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026, stating that while it is the responsibility of an elected government to safeguard fundamental rights, the Bill appears to deviate from that objective. "It is the responsibility of any elected government in a democracy like ours to protect the fundamental rights, freedom of speech and basic rights of people. But in the name of protect ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The Assembly on Monday referred the Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill to a Select Committee following objections from opposition parties and suggestions from ruling party members. The House also authorised the Speaker to select any number of members for the formation of the committee. The Bill, introduced by BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on behalf of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, drew comments from 14 members before the referral. Speaking on the legislation, the ...Read More >
Hyderabad, March 30 (RAHNUMA): The Telangana Legislative Assembly has referred the Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026 to a Select Committee, a move hailed by government advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir as a "bold and decisive step". The Bill, introduced by Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu on behalf of the Chief Minister, proposes a comprehensive legal framework to deal with hate speech and hate crimes. It provides for imprisonment of not less than one year, ext ...Read More >
Hyderabad, March 30: Advisor to Telangana Government Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Monday hailed the unanimous decision of the Legislative Assembly to refer the Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026 to a Select Committee, congratulating Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for what he described as a bold and decisive step to curb hate speech and protect social harmony. Stating that only Congress governments have demonstrated the political will to act firmly against hate speech, Shab ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The Telangana Assembly on Monday referred a bill aimed at preventing hate speech to a select committee following demands by the BJP, CPI and also some ruling Congress members.According to the statement of objects and reasons of the Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, a dedicated legislation is necessitated to effectively prevent and regulate hate speech and hate crimes as the existing legal framework does not comprehensively address hate speech and crimes.State Tr ...Read More >
HYDERABAD The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) termed the Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill introduced in the Assembly as a draconian tool to curb free speech and to harass political opponents. In a statement, working president of the party K.T. Rama Rao said on Monday that the Bill was raising serious concerns over the constitutional, democratic and civil liberties rights and if it becomes law it would be a clear violation of the Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. Condem ...Read More >
Hyderabad, March 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Telangana's Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026, was referred to a Select Committee of the State Legislative Assembly for detailed scrutiny after members expressed concerns over certain provisions and potential misuse. Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who piloted the Bill, moved a motion to refer the Bill to a Select Committee. R. Prakash Reddy, who was in the chair, announced the passing of the motion by a voice vote. The Bill, earlier ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026, tabled in the Assembly, was strongly opposed by the Opposition, including Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM and Communist Party of India (CPI), questioning its need when there are provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to prevent hate crimes and speech. The Bill was introduced by the Backwards Classes (BC) Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Monday, March 29. Contesting, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (A ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], March 12 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice on a petition challenging orders that prohibit public meetings and protests within the Delhi University campus. The court has sought responses from Delhi University, Delhi Police, and concerned colleges regarding the restrictions imposed earlier this year. The matter was heard by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia. The petition challenges a February 17 order i ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to stay a blanket ban on processions, demonstrations and protests on the Delhi University campus but said it is of the clear opinion that such a ban cannot exist. The court asked the university and Delhi Police to respond to a law student's petition against the prohibition. "Since when has this order been operating? Let it operate for 10 more days," a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said, underscoring that a balanc ...Read More >
New Delhi, Mar 12 (PTI) Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said Lok Sabha functions strictly according to rules and no member has the privilege to speak whenever he or she wishes and warned that if anyone behaves contrary to the decorum of the House, he would be compelled to take strict action to preserve its dignity. A day after a resolution seeking his removal from office was defeated, Birla also said in Lok Sabha that members may personally agree or disagree with the decision of the Chair, but it ...Read More >
Guwahati: Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma on Friday refused to allow a discussion on the recent illegal coal mine blast that killed 33 people earlier this month, citing the sub judice provisions under Assembly rules. The move drew strong protests from the Opposition. The Speaker said the matter is pending in court and, therefore, cannot be taken up on the House floor. "I have received that this matter is sub judice and is pending in the court of law. Accordingly, I have taken this d ...Read More >
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. The 30th International Film Festival of Kerala descended into crisis this week after the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting denied screening permission for 19 films, triggering protests from delegates, filmmakers, and politicians. Among the initially blocked titles: Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 masterpiece Battleship Potemkin, Fernando Solanas's political documentary The Hour of the Furnaces, four films about Palesti ...Read More >
DELHI - The Amnesty International has slammed chief minister of Indian state of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, for pulling down hijab of a Muslim student during a government function. The video of the disturbing incident went viral on social media, drawing massive criticism amid demand for an action against the chief minister. Aakar Patel, Chair of Board at Amnesty International India, said in a statement that the act was an assault on this woman's dignity, autonomy, and identity. "When a public offici ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 16 (PTI) The Left government in Kerala on Tuesday directed the organisers of the IFFK to screen all films selected for the event, challenging the BJP-led Centre after it allegedly denied clearance for the screening of more than a dozen movies. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Kerala Chalachitra Academy said all films would be screened irrespective of whether the Centre had granted clearance. In a Facebook post, Vijayan termed as "unacceptable" the Centre's denial ...Read More >
Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], December 16 (ANI): The Tibetan government in exile has strongly condemned remarks by the China-appointed Panchen Lama on the Dalai Lama's reincarnation, reaffirming that authority over the process rests solely with the Dalai Lama. Speaking to ANI, Tibetan government-in-exile spokesperson Tenzin Lekshay said, "Tibetans and all the followers of Buddhism believe that the ultimate choice or ultimate authority lies with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Now it's up ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 16 (PTI) The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) has decided to screen all films as scheduled despite the denial of the central government clearance for screening over a dozen films at the festival, which is being held here from December 12 to 19, Kerala Chalachitra Academy Chairman Resul Pookutty said here on Tuesday. "I am happy to let you know, dousing all the fire on the controversies regarding film screening in the IFFK, we are going ahead with all the scre ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 16 (PTI) CPI(M) MP John Brittas on Tuesday wrote to Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging him to intervene for the immediate grant of censor exemption to the remaining 15 films at the ongoing International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). The issue touches India's constitutional commitment to freedom of expression and a facilitative decision will reaffirm the Union Government's support for India's cultural institutions, he said. Earlier, sources said four ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: For the first time ever, the Central government has insisted on the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) sanction to screen select bunch of films at the ongoing International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in Thiruvananthapuram. The pending censorship exemption for 19 films has led to cancellations and schedule revisions, leading to protests. On Tuesday, four films were given exemption, but clearance for 15 films was put on hold. Kerala State Chalachitra Academy chairman Resu ...Read More >
The Supreme Court will hear the DMK's challenge to the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu on November 11. The DMK argues the exercise, initiated by an October 27 notification, is unconstitutional and threatens democratic rights. The party seeks to quash the EC's order, citing violations of fundamental rights and electoral laws. The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on November 11 the plea of DMK challenging the decision of the Election Commiss ...Read More >
New Delhi- YouTube has secretly deleted more than 700 videos documenting Israeli violations in Gaza and the West Bank after removing the accounts of three major Palestinian human rights organizations, a move widely condemned as an assault on free expression and accountability. The accounts belonged to three prominent Palestinian human rights groups: Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. The deleted content included a documentary featuring mothers ...Read More >
Bengaluru: In a setback to the Karnataka government, the High Court has issued an interim stay on a state order that made prior permission mandatory for private organisations to hold any activity in public places. The order, issued on October 18, 2025, by the state government, stated that gatherings of more than 10 people in public spaces such as roads, parks, and playgrounds would be considered as "unlawful assemblies." Challenging this, four petitioners -- including the Hubballi-based Punashc ...Read More >
The government on Thursday initiated the process to appoint the next chief justice of India as incumbent B R Gavai demits office on November 23, In an era where almost all aspects of governance and decision-making involves the usage of technology, in varying degrees, Justice Surya Kant, poised to assume the office of Chief Justice of India (CJI) next month, has been a strong proponent of profound human enterprise in the domain of dispensing justice. In his recent address, Justice Surya Kant, ...Read More >
As the clock ticks towards November 23, the government is gearing up to choose the next Chief Justice of India. Current Chief Justice, B R Gavai, is set to retire, and the Union Law Minister will consult him for a successor recommendation. The government on Thursday initiated the process to appoint the next chief justice of India as incumbent B R Gavai demits office on November 23, sources said. The letter asking Justice Gavai to name his successor is set to be delivered either this evening or ...Read More >
Artist Hanan Benammar's artwork was vandalized in Kochi. Another artist claimed her work was obscene and anti-Dalit. Benammar stated that destroying art is not the way to support women artists. She expressed concern about the incident's impact on young women artists. The damaged works remain on display, sparking reflection on censorship."If the person who vandalized my work is serious about making space for women artists -- whether they are from Kerala or abroad -- then he should focus on creati ...Read More >
Stay updated with the latest None news, articles, and insights from trusted sources. Explore in-depth coverage and expert analysis on None topics.