I.D.
END TERM EXAMINATION, APRIL 2017
B.A.LL.B. (HONS.)
SEMESTER-VIII X
Media Law
Max. Marks: 60 Time Allowed: 3:00 Hrs.
Note: Answer five questions including Question No. 1 which is compulsory. The number of marks
carried by each question is indicated at the end of the question.
1. Answer the following (each answer should be in approximately 100 words): (Marks 2×10=20)
a. Comment on commercial speech as a fundamental right.
b. Comment on the laws that licence secrecy after independence in Indian scenario.
c. Whether in the course of divorce proceedings, where divorce was being sought on grounds
such as impotency or schizophrenia, Medicinal Examination would not an intrusion on the
individual's privacy. Discuss with the help of case law.
d. What is the main function of ASCI?
e. Write a descriptive note on "group defamation".
f. Discuss the test of erosion of public confidence with reference to the contempt of court.
g. Discuss the doctrine of direct impact with respect to testing the reasonableness of
restrictions on free speech and expression.
h. Why the Press or Media is considered as fourth organ of State?
i. Write an explanatory note on the right to receive information.
j. Write a descriptive note on the media effects theories.
2. In the case of State of Uttar Pradesh v. Raj Narain, the then hon'ble Justice of Supreme Court
of India KK Mathew observed that, "in a government like ours, where all the agents of the
public must be responsible, there can be but few secrets. The people of this country have a
right to know every public act, everything that is done in a public way; by their public
functionaries…The responsibility of officials to explain or to justify their acts is the chief
safeguard against oppression." In this background discuss the judicial recognition of the
Right to Information and also discuss salient features of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
(Marks 10)
3. In India, the right to privacy is not a specific fundamental right but has nevertheless gained
constitutional recognition through creative interpretation of Article 21 and Article 19 in
variety of cases, ranging from police surveillance, right to interview, right to publish
autobiography, biographical films and telephone tapping to the right of confidentiality of an
HIV infected person. In this background discuss the right to privacy with the help of relevant
case laws. (Marks 10)
PTO
4. In the case of Brahma Prakash Sharma v State of U. P., it was observed by the Supreme Court
of India that, "the object of contempt jurisdiction is to safeguard the interests of the public
which would be adversely affected if the authority of the court is denigrated and public
confidence in the administration of justice is weakened." In this background discuss
'Contempt: a 'reasonable restriction' on free speech and expression' with the help of relevant
case laws. (Marks 10)
5. Discuss the following:- (Marks
a. Write a descriptive note on the judicial recognition of the right to broadcast and also trace
the evolution of broadcasting and its regulation in India.
b. Write an explanatory note on the decency and morality as exceptions to Article 19
of the Constitution of India.
6. What is legislative privilege? Write an explanatory note on the legislative privileges under the
Constitution of India with the help of relevant case laws. (Marks 10)
7. Discuss the following: (Marks
a. Write a descriptive note on the defences to an action for defamation.
b. "Publicity of judicial proceedings is not an absolute rule. A number of statutory
provisions restrict, empower or require the court to restrict the publication of such
proceedings." Comment on the abovementioned statement.