Fourth pillar of democracy
Also called: Fourth estate · Topic: Civil Society, Pressure Groups, NGOs and Self-help Groups · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 6 "The State, the Government, and You"; Class 9, Ch 6 "Democracy"
Meaning
The "fourth pillar of democracy" means the media. The other three pillars are the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. The media inform people, act as the voice of the masses and raise public issues (Class 9, Democracy). The Constitution does not name press freedom separately. Courts have read it into the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). Key cases are Romesh Thappar (1950), Sakal Papers (1962), Bennett Coleman (1973) and Indian Express (1985).
Example
In Cricket Association of Bengal (1995), the Supreme Court held that airwaves are public property. This means broadcasting must serve the public and cannot be a private monopoly. Today the pillar faces threats such as fake news, paid news, trial by media and attacks on journalists.
Don't confuse with
- Press Council of India: a statutory body under the Press Council Act 1978 that watches over print media ethics. It is one regulator of the media, not the "fourth pillar" itself.
Related concepts
- Press Council of India
- Press and Registration of Periodicals Act 2023
- Prasar Bharati
- News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority
- IT Rules 2021