Constitutional Role Of The Media: The Fourth Pillar Of Democracy
- IJLLR Journal
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Vikrant Malhotra, ICFAI Law School
Dr. Monika Kharola, ICFAI Law School
ABSTRACT
The media, which is frequently referred to as the Fourth Pillar of Democracy, is an important pillar in ensuring democratic values and transparency, accountability, and public engagement. In the Indian Constitution, the media is not formally mentioned as a pillar of government such as the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary. Nevertheless, its constitutional basis is firmly established under Article 19(1)(a), which enshrines the freedom of speech and expression. This provision acts as the backbone of the press freedom, with the media existing independently and accountably in the context of democracy
This abstract explores the constitutional role of media in India and its critical contribution to nation-building and democratic functioning. Media acts as a bridge between the government and the governed, facilitating the free flow of information, enabling informed public opinion, and acting as a watchdog against misuse of power. It ensures that the principles of liberty, equality, and justice, as enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution, are actively protected and promoted.
The research also discusses the constitutional restrictions placed under Article 19(2), which allows the state to place reasonable limitations on the freedom of the press in the interests of sovereignty, national security, public order, and morality.
With the advent of social media and online news websites, the media landscape has witnessed explosive growth in the digital age. Though this has democratized access to information, it has also been responsible for increasing issues of misinformation, paid news, sensationalism, and media trials. All these require that the current legal and ethical paradigms regulating media in India be revisited.
Keywords: Media and Democracy, Fourth Pillar of Democracy, Article 19(1)(a), Freedom of Speech and Expression, Watchdog Function, Misinformation, Paid News, Media Trials, Legal and Ethical Regulation
Comments