Sedition Law and Freedom of Speech
Umang Ghildyal · Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research · 2019
In accordance with Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, every citizen has been granted the right to speech and express their views. However, the freedom is not absolute and, under Article 19, some fair limits on freedom of speech and expression have been imposed (2). But if a person performs an act that is deemed to be disdainful to the Government of India by his speech, signs or representation, then that act is punishable under section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Sedition is an offense that criminalizes speech that is considered disloyal to the state or threatening it. The provisions of Section 124A are very broad and relate to the Government's act of defamation, excluding any criticism in good faith of any specific measures or acts of administration. Sedition is a controversial term that is thrown about in today's social dialogue rampantly and carelessly. With a distaste for the policies of the government growing in the general population, the manifestation of youth dissatisfaction is also branded as sedition. Many don't know what it really constitutes, though. Therefore, we have to ask ourselves first, what does sedition mean in law?In this review paper, we shall look at the various aspects related to the crime of Sedition in reference to freedom of speech. We will further look at the judicial pronouncement which helps in evolving and establishing the concept of the sedition.