The government should stay away from putting any curbs on freedom of expression as the "age of bans is over", Information and Broadcasting minister Arun Jaitley said today, but maintained that restrictions imposed in the Constitution play an important role in the larger interest.


Delivering the Sardar Patel lecture organised by All India Radio (AIR) here, the Union minister noted that while the right to freedom of expression has expanded in India through successive judicial verdicts and technological advances, its misuse also continue to happen.


"Many believe, and I am one of those who do believe, that the age of bans is now over. It is literally impossible if not very difficult to implement them," he said. Reiterating that the government should not step into curbing the right to freedom of expression, Jaitley said, "Should the state step in? As far as possible, no".