VIRENDRA vs THE STATE OF PUNJAB AND ANOTHER(and connected petition)

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Punjab Special Powers (Press) Act, 1956, specifically Sections 2(1)(a) and 3(1), ruling that the restrictions imposed were reasonable under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. The Court found that the prohibitions against publishing matters related to the 'Save Hindi agitation' and the entry of newspapers into Punjab did not violate the fundamental rights of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) or the right to carry on trade under Article 19(1)(g). The Court emphasized that the restrictions were necessary to maintain public order amidst communal tensions.