Varleen Kaur Saluja, BBA LLB(H), School of Law, Bennett University
ABSTRACT
Freedom of speech and expression is a double-barrelled sword, which at one end provides the citizens or the people of the country to speak and express freely, while at another end forbids them to do certain acts or actions which tend to cause, the abuse of their inherent and unalterable right, through the law of sedition. The law of sedition forbids words or behaviour which tends to fan the flames of revolt against the state, authority or the government per see.
The contemporary instances that have recently took place in the country have raised several questions to the undemocratic essence and rationality of the sedition laws. Various application and interpretation of sedition law by the courts of India has in a way shown that as these laws were made during the colonial rule, where British wanted to deny the people, their right to voice their opinion and thus such laws have become out of date in the present scenario. In the society where we will live nowadays, the people of the country have right to freedom of speech and expression as their fundamental right, which cannot be altered, although reasonable restrictions could be placed, but to what extent is the question which holds the salient importance.
This paper is an attempt to answer the above question and to analyse the sedition law in India, with the help of various interpretations that the Indian courts have possessed in various precedents.
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