{"id":12120,"date":"2021-07-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-17T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/17-07-2021\/sedition-law-in-india\/"},"modified":"2024-07-17T00:49:14","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T19:19:14","slug":"sedition-law-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/17-07-2021\/sedition-law-in-india","title":{"rendered":"Sedition Law in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8cffa088852da03e118645c93a14a1d1\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><strong>Background<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This observation came while the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/supreme-court\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/supreme-court\/\"><strong>Supreme Court (SC)<\/strong><\/a> was <strong>hearing a petition<\/strong> filed by Major General (retired) SG Vombatkere who has <strong>challenged Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code<\/strong> (IPC) which <strong>deals with the offence of sedition<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In his plea, Vombatkere has challenged the constitutional validity of the sedition law on the grounds that it has a \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>chilling effect<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201d on <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>speech and poses an unreasonable restriction <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">on the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>fundamental right of free expression<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Article 19(1)(a)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of the Constitution guarantees Indian citizens\u2019 freedom of speech and expression.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b0ea204a84e78af22fa911c27c2be5c1\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><strong>About Sedition Law<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The sedition law, enshrined in <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Section 124A of IPC<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, was <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>introduced by the British government<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>1870<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to tackle dissent against colonial rule.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>original draft of the IPC<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, which was enacted in 1860, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>did not consist<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of this law and the Section was drafted by <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Thomas Babington Macaulay<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in 1970.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Section 124A states:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8220;Whoever, words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government established by law in India shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the 19<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><sup>th<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> and 20<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><sup>th<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> centuries, the law was used primarily to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>suppress the writings and speeches <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">of prominent Indian nationalists and freedom fighters.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>first known instance<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of the application of the law was the trial of newspaper editor<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> Jogendra Chandra Bose<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>1891<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Other major examples<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of the application of the law include the trials of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Trials of Tilak and Gandhi<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>1922<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Gandhi<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> was arrested on charges of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>sedition in Bombay for taking part in protests<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> against the colonial government and was sentenced to six years in prison. However, he was released after two years because of medical reasons.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Tilak faced three trials<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in cases related to sedition and was <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>imprisoned twice<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">. In <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>1897<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, he was charged with sedition for writing an article in his <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>weekly publication<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> called <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Kesari<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> and was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. In <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>1908<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, he was<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> tried again <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">for his writings and was <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>represented by Mohammad Ali Jinnah<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-dda2bf5276ecbdc1b953870a52b420f7\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><strong>Arguments For Section 124A<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Section <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>124A of the IPC has its utility<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>combating anti-national, secessionist and terrorist elements.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It protects the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>elected government from attempts to overthrow<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> the government with <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>violence and illegal means.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The continued <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>existence of the government<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> established by law is an <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>essential condition of the stability of the State.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many districts in <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>different states face a Maoist insurgency<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> and <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>rebel groups <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">virtually run a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>parallel administration<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">These groups openly <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>advocate the overthrow<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of the s<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>tate government by revolution.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Therefore, there is a need to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>retain the provision to effectively combat anti-national, secessionist and terrorist elements.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The plea had contended that the provision which was used by the British against Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak is still being \u201cgrossly abused\u201d to stifle freedom of speech and expression of those who choose to express dissent against policies of the Governments in power<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-24281f62df2d46f19a8115a650ece745\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><strong>Arguments Against Section 124A<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mahatma Gandhi called Section 124A \u201cthe <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>prince among the political sections <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">of the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>IPC designed to suppress<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> the liberty of the citizen\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Jawaharlal Nehru<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> said that the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>provision was \u201cobnoxious<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201d and <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u201chighly objectionable\u201d, and \u201cthe sooner we get rid of it the better\u201d.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>constraint on the legitimate exercise<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of c<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>onstitutionally guaranteed freedom<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>speech and expression.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Dissent and criticism<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of the government are an<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> essential ingredient<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of robust public <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>debate in a vibrant democracy.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The British, who <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>introduced sedition to oppress Indians<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, have themselves abolished the law in their country.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There is no reason why India should <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>not abolish this section.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The sedition law is being misused as a tool to persecute political dissent. A wide and concentrated executive discretion is inbuilt into it which permits the blatant abuse.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4b161e57bd3919400092df2b251f7124\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><strong>Supreme Court\u2019s Earlier Stand<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The sedition law has been <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>challenged several times<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> over the last few years but it has managed to survive all of the challenges against it.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the landmark <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Kedar Nath versus Union of India case<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> (1962), the SC <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>upheld the constitutional validity<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of the sedition law while trying to curtail its misuse.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Court upheld the law on the basis that this <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>power was required by the state<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>protect itself<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, it had added a vital caveat that &#8220;<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>a person could be prosecuted<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> for sedition only if<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> his acts caused incitement to violence or intention or tendency<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to create <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>public disorder or cause disturbance of public peace<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8220;.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>It also added that <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">unless accompanied by an incitement or call for violence, criticism of the government cannot be labelled sedition.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The SC laid down that <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>every citizen has a right to say or write<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> about the government, by way of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>criticism or comment, as long as it does not <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>incite people<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>violence<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201d against the government <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>established by law or with the intention of creating public disorder<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>September 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, the SC had reiterated <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>these necessary safeguards<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> and held that they <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>should be followed by all authorities<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9b1c184b0d33d67190186505c04a5e34\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><strong>Latest Ruling of Supreme Court\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A three-judge Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud flagged indiscriminate use of the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>sedition law against critics, journalists, social media users<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, activists and citizens for airing their grievances about the governments Covid-19 management, or even for <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>seeking help to gain <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">medical access, equipment, drugs and oxygen cylinders, especially during the second wave of the pandemic.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The ambit and parameters of the provisions of Sections <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>124A, 153A and 505<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of the IPC 1860 would require<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> interpretation, particularly <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">in the context of the right of the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>electronic and print media<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to communicate news, information and the rights, even those that may be critical of the prevailing regime in any part of the nation<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/25-02-2023\/section-153a-its-use-and-misuse\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/25-02-2023\/section-153a-its-use-and-misuse\"><strong>Section 153 A<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> Punishes acts promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Section 505:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> Makes the publication and circulation of content which may cause ill-will or hatred between different groups an offence.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The court acknowledged the argument that the media was well within its rights to air critical programmes about a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>prevailing regime without attracting sedition.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1e603a2ea607b35340e5267a97dffca5\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">India, being the largest democracy in the world, has to ensure its <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>essential ingredients of free speech and expression<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">. The <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>expression or thought<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> that is not in consonance with the policy of the government of the day <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>should not be considered sedition<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Law Commission<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> has rightly said, &#8220;an expression of frustration over the state of affairs cannot be treated as sedition&#8221;. If a nation is not open to positive criticism, there would be<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> no difference between the pre-and post-Independence<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> eras.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is also <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>essential to protect national integrity<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">. Given the legal opinion and the views of the government in favour of the law, it is unlikely that Section 124A will be scrapped soon. However, it <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>should not be misused<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> as a tool to curb free speech.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/sedition-law-bal-gangadhar-tilak-mahatma-gandhi-colonial-7408106\/\" data-schema-attribute=\"mentions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><u>IE<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The sedition law, enshrined in Section 124A of IPC, was introduced by the British government in 1870 to tackle dissent against colonial rule.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[31,30],"class_list":["post-12120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-government-policies-interventions","tag-gs-2"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12120"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26714,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12120\/revisions\/26714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}