Sedition: Understanding Its History, Definition And Implications

Anushk, BA LLB (Hons.), Christ (Deemed To Be) University

ABSTRACT

The law of sedition has drawn condemnation both domestically and abroad ever since it was first enacted during imperial times in India. The British intended to impose this rule in India in an effort to silence detractors and quell all nationalist activity, but they were unsuccessful, and India attained freedom. After independence, though, it became unclear why such a law was being kept in place, the law is still being used and misused by the government today. Free speech and expression are the lifeblood of a freely and democratically constituted government. The ambiguities present in this legislation are one of the primary causes of this blurring of the boundaries between use and abuse of such law. Due to its rampant use in the recent times and its vague nature, it becomes very important in contemporary times to analyse the historical development and all the aspects related to constitutional validity of such a law which is based on the notion that people are bound to feel affection towards the state and any desire to show contempt, enmity, hostility or hatred towards the government established by law should be punished. The paper will help the readers to understand the law of sedition and its connection with the government and the people as a safeguard to their fundamental rights more clearly and help as a foundation to further the knowledge in the same domain.