“Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a State or monarch” can be considered as Sedition.The sedition law was incorporated into the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in 1870 as fears of a possible uprising plagued the colonial authorities.“Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise , brings or attempt to bring into hatred or contempt or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government established by Law is punishable with imprisonment for life.For India, it’s a question of walking the fine line between liberty and security, tough choices and hard lessons.
This law should not be part of modern democratic society as :
- It is a colonial law which was enacted to curb freedom of speech and expression and hence against article 19 of the Constitution.
- The definition of sedition is too vague and subjected to discretionary understanding and hence whims and fancies of ruling governance is involved.
- Various SC judgements like in manekaGandhi case the court gave the judgement that Criticizing and drawing general opinion against the Govt. policies and decisions within areasonable limit that does not incite people to rebel is consistent with the freedom of speech.
- Criticism is the essence of democracy and just dissenting with government should not be come under sedition law. Even the national crime record bureau suggest that rate of conviction in the sedition cases is very poor.
Hence the time for sedition law shall be stopped and the law should be make part of the history.