Article 19 - Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc. - Constitution of India

Article 19. Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.- (1) All citizens shall have the right- (a) to freedom of speech and expression; (b) to assemble peaceably and without arms; (c) to form associations or unions; 9 [ or co-operative societies ]; (d) to move freely throughout the territory of India; (e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; 6 [ and ] 7 [***] (g) to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business. 1 [ (2) Nothing in sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any law, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause in the interests of 3 [ the sovereignty and integrity of India ] , the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence .] (3) Nothing in sub-clause (b) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of 4 [ the sovereignty and integrity of India or ] public order, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause. (4) Nothing in sub-clause (c) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of 5 [ the sovereignty and integrity of India or ] public order or morality, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause. (5) Nothing in 8 [ sub-clauses (d) and (e) ] of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of any of the rights conferred by the said sub-clauses either in the interests of the general public or for the protection of the interests of any Scheduled Tribe. (6) Nothing in sub-clause (g) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of the general public, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause, and, in particular, 2 [ nothing in the said sub-clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it relates to, or prevent the State from making any law relating to,- (i) the professional or technical qualifications necessary for practising any profession or carrying on any occupation, trade or business, or (ii) the carrying on by the State, or by a corporation owned or controlled by the State, of any trade, business, industry or service, whether to the exclusion, complete or partial, of citizens or otherwise. ] ****************** NOTES:- 1 . Substituted vide Article 3 of the C onstitution (1st Amendment) Act, 1951 dated 18-06-1951 w.e.f. 18-06-1951, before it was read as, (2) Nothing in sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it relates to, or prevents the State from making any law relating to, libel, slander, defamation, contempt of court or any matter which offends against decency or morality or which undermines the security of, or tends to overthrow, the State. 2 . Substituted vide Article 3 of the C onstitution (1st Amendment) Act, 1951 dated 18-06-1951 w.e.f. 18-06-1951, before it was read as, nothing in the said sub-clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it prescribes or empowers any authority to prescribe, or prevent the State from making any law prescribing or empowering any authority to prescribe, the professional or technical qualifications necessary for practising any profession or carrying on any occupation, trade or business . 3 . Inserted by Article 2 of the Constitution (16th Amendment) Act, 1963 dated 05-10-1963 w.e.f. 18-06-1963. 4 . Inserted by Article 2 of the Constitution (16th Amendment) Act, 1963 dated 05-10-1963 w.e.f. 18-06-1963. 5 . Inserted by Article 2 of the Constitution (16th Amendment) Act, 1963 dated 05-10-1963 w.e.f. 18-06-1963. 6 . Inserted by Article 2 of the Constitution (44th Amendment) Act, 1978 dated 30-04-1979 w.e.f. 20-06-1979 7 . Omitted by Article 2 of the Constitution (44th Amendment) Act, 1978 dated 30-04-1979 w.e.f. 20-06-1979, before it was read as, (f) to acquire, hold and dispose of property; and 8 . Substituted vide Article 2 of the Constitution (44th Amendment) Act, 1978 dated 30-04-1979 w.e.f. 20-06-1979, before it was read as, sub-clauses ( d ), ( e ) and ( f ) 9 . Inserted by Article 2 of the Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011 dated 12-01-2012 w.e.f. 15-02-2012.