The government needs to balance both national security and the environment while also maintaining transparency in prioritising such projects, experts said.
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FROM TOI PRINT EDITION
What the Supreme Court said in 1985, on how newsprint duties impact freedom of the press in India February 19, 2021, 12:22 PM IST
Part 2 of the series ‘Free to Air’
In 1985, the Indian government began levying import duty on newsprint imported from abroad along with an auxiliary customs duty. This resulted in an increase in the price of newspapers and reduced their circulation. These levies were challenged by several publishers, editors and printers of daily newspapers for stifling their freedom of speech and expression. In response, the government argued that these duties had been levied on newsprint in ‘public interest’ so as to augment revenue.