Granting anticipatory bail to S. Nagesh Kumar, Resident Editor, The Hindu, in a case registered against him by the police after the newspaper published a report on Director General of Police V. Dinesh Reddy’s visit to a godman in the Old City recently, Justice Chandra Kumar of the AP High Court on Friday said the press played a vital role in making sure the fundamental rights are implemented in the country.
Freedom of speech
Justice Kumar recalled the basic principles of Indian Constitution which guaranteed freedom of speech and expression, subject to reasonable restrictions, while allowing a petition filed by Mr. Nagesh Kumar.
“Those who are in power or at the helm of affairs get to know the ground realities and difficulties of the people only through the press,” said the judge.
The judge heard L. Ravichander, senior counsel for the petitioner, and Vinod Kumar Deshpande, public prosecutor for over half-an-hour.
