Prevention and Management — Legal Reforms

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
First Amendment Act	1951	This amendment introduced 'public order' as a reasonable restriction on the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(2). Prior to this, only 'security of the State' and 'defamation' were grounds for restriction. The amendment also added 'incitement to an offence' as a ground.	The inclusion of 'public order' significantly empowered the state to curb speech that could incite communal disharmony or violence. It provided a stronger legal basis for laws like Sections 153A and 295A of the IPC, which deal with promoting enmity between groups and outraging religious feelings, directly impacting the prevention of communal incitement and religious extremism. This amendment is foundational to balancing free speech with the need for communal harmony.