LANDMARK CASE
Indian Express Newspapers v. Union of India
(1985) 1 SCC 641 · Supreme Court of India · Constitutional law
At a glance
- Citation: (1985) 1 SCC 641
- Court: Supreme Court of India
- Area of law: Constitutional law
- In one line: Taxes are allowed but must not be excessive so as to curb circulation; the government was told to reconsider.
1 Facts
Newspapers challenged import duty on newsprint.
2 Issue
Can taxes on newsprint violate freedom of the press?
3 What the court decided
Taxes are allowed but must not be excessive so as to curb circulation; the government was told to reconsider.
4 Why it matters
It recognised the press's role in democracy.
5 Think about it
When does a tax become a restriction on speech?
6 Analyse it yourself
Read the full judgment from an official source or a law database, then brief it in seven steps: facts, issues, arguments, decision, ratio, obiter and significance. Always check the citation before you rely on it.
7 More cases on Constitutional law
- A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras AIR 1950 SC 27
- ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla (1976) 2 SCC 521
- Air India v. Nergesh Meerza (1981) 4 SCC 335
- Ajay Hasia v. Khalid Mujib Sehravardi (1981) 1 SCC 722
- Anuj Garg v. Hotel Association of India (2008) 3 SCC 1
- Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India (2020) 3 SCC 637
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A short teaching summary for students. Educational content only, not legal advice.