<P> Most members of the Constituent Assembly welcomed the inclusion of the right However, conflict emerged around the proviso in the Article that placed restrictions on the right: while some members opposed the mention of restrictions on the right, others supported it . Members who opposed the restrictions argued that 1 . there was no point in having a right to freedom of speech and expression in the presence of restrictions . 2 . Putting restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression was a British practice . Members who supported the restrictions argued that 1 . Restrictions are fine as the government now is not a colonial one 2 . No where is the world is freedom of speech and expression absolute . 3 . Law and order and security of the state cannot be compromised . </P> <P> In the end, the Constituent Assembly voted on the Article and included a right to freedom of speech and expression in the Constitution of India, 1950 with restrictions similar to the ones mentioned in the Draft Constitution, 1948 . </P> <P> In a landmark judgment of the case Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, the Supreme Court held that the freedom of speech and expression has no geographical limitation and it carries with it the right of a citizen to gather information and to exchange thought with others not only in India but abroad also . </P> <P> The constitution of India does not specifically mention the freedom of press . Freedom of press is implied from the Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution . Thus the press is subject to the restrictions that are provided under the Article 19 (2) of the Constitution . Before Independence, there was no constitutional or statutory provision to protect the freedom of press . As observed by the Privy Council in Channing Arnold v. King Emperor: "The freedom of the journalist is an ordinary part of the freedom of the subject and to whatever length, the subject in general may go, so also may the journalist, but apart from statute his privilege is no other and no higher . The range of his assertions, his criticisms or his comments is as wide as, and no wider than that of any other subject". The Preamble of the Indian Constitution ensures to all its citizens the liberty of expression . Freedom of the press has been included as part of freedom of speech and expression under the Article 19 of the UDHR . The heart of the Article 19 says: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers ." </P>

In india the right to freedom of speech and expression is restricted on the grounds of