The Supreme Court on Monday posted the hearing of pleas relating to the limits of the right to freedom of speech and expression for high public functionaries such as a Minister of a State for November 15.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice S Abdul Nazeer observed that restrictions on the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India, 1950, are to be determined on a case-to-case basis.

The bench also comprised Justices BR Gavai, AS Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian and BV Nagarathna.

The case involves whether a minister can claim the right to ‘freedom of speech and expression’ to speak contrary to the Central government’s statute and policy.

The case was filed after the then Uttar Pradesh Minister and senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan made an alleged statement terming the Bulandshahr gang-rape case as a ‘political conspiracy and nothing else’ to defame the former Samajwadi Party government.