Know Your Rights Guide for Journalists in India (Brief Overview)

Since 2015, the Committee to Protect Journalists in India observed more arrests and cases lodged against journalists under various legislations. Some of these include the Indian Penal Code 1860, Information Technology Act 2000 and The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. This marked the beginning of a new and dangerous era. There are also several cases that were lodged against journalists while they are reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

The brief overview to the guide is intended to provide a concise, user-friendly, practical guidance for journalists and newsrooms seeking to understand their rights in India. It will be useful resource for journalists as it summarises their rights while reporting, given their role is an essential service and they support the important pillar of freedom of speech. It also highlights the offences they should be mindful of that can be used for arrest. This was produced by the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Thomson Reuters Foundation, with pro bono legal research provided by Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. .