Statement Made by Minister Cannot be Vicariously Attributed to Govt: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has said that a statement made by a minister cannot be attributed vicariously to the government even when applying the principle of collective responsibility.

A five-judge Constitution bench said that no additional restrictions, other than those prescribed under Article 19 (2) of the Constitution, can be imposed on the right to free speech of a citizen.

The bench comprising Justices S Abdul Nazeer, B R Gavai, A S Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian and B V Nagarathna said that the restrictions under Article 19(2) are exhaustive.

The judgement came on a question of whether restrictions can be imposed on a public functionary’s right to freedom of speech and expression.

Justice Nagarathna wrote a separate judgement and said freedom of speech and expression is a much-needed right so that citizens are well informed and educated on governance.