6.8.2. Applicability

Rights under Article 19 are protected against only state action and not private individuals. Moreover, these rights are available only to the citizens and to shareholders of a company but not to foreigners or legal persons like companies or corporations, etc. The State can impose

‘reasonable’ restrictions on the enjoyment of these six rights only on the grounds mentioned in

the Article 19 itself and not on any other grounds.

Article 19 is suspended automatically if proclamation is on ground of external aggression, and remains so, as long as emergency is in operation. However, after the 44th Amendment, it cannot be suspended if the emergency is declared on the grounds armed rebellion.