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 complete prohibition. In this context we may note that the aforesaid contention cannot be sustained in light of a number of judgments of this Court wherein the restriction has also been held to include complete prohibition in appropriate cases. [Madhya Bharat Cotton Association Ltd. v. Union of India, AIR 1954 SC 634, Narendra Kumar v. Union of India, (1960) 2 SCR 375, State of Maharashtra v. Himmatbhai Narbheram Rao, (1969) 2 SCR 392, Sushila Saw Mill v. State of Orissa, (1995) 5 SCC 615, Pratap Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Union of India, (1997) 5 SCC 87 and Dharam Dutt v. Union of India, (2004) 1 SCC 712]

33. The study of aforesaid case law points to three propositions which emerge with respect to Article 19(2) of the Constitution. (i) Restriction on free speech and expression may include cases of prohibition. (ii) There should not be excessive burden on free speech even if a complete prohibition is imposed, and the government has to justify imposition of such prohibition and explain as to why lesser alternatives would be inadequate. (iii) Whether a restriction amounts to a complete prohibition is a question of fact, which is required to be determined by the Court 31