Free Speech and Sedition Laws in India: Conflict or Compatibility?

References

[1] Ronald Dworkin, 'Free Speech and Censorship' (1994).

[2] Mill, J. S. (1859). "On Liberty"

[3] Andrew Heywood, Key Concepts in Politics and International Relations (2nd edn, Red Globe Press 2015).

[4] HLA Hart, The Concept of Law (2nd edn, Clarendon Press 1994) 193.

[5] Thomas Scanlon, 'A Theory of Freedom of Expression' (1972) 1(2) Philosophy & Public Affairs 204​.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Constitution of India 1950, art 19(1)(a).

[8] Romesh Thappar v State of Madras AIR 1950 SC 124.

[9] Bijoe Emmanuel v State of Kerala AIR 1987 SC 748.

[10] Imran Pratapgarhi v State of Gujarat (SC, 28 March 2025).

[11] Constitution of India 1950, art 19(2).

[12] Rongeet Poddar, 'Sedition and Colonial Legalism' Economic and Political Weekly (2023), 58(24),4-5.

[13] Indian Penal Code 1860, s 124A.

[14] Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, s 152.

[15] Ali SMA and Mukhopadhyay P, “Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: Decolonizing Criminal Law or Colonial Continuities?” [2024] International Annals of Criminology 1.

[16] Emperor v Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1908) 10 BOMLR 848.

[17] Akksharra P V, ‘A Comprehensive Review of Sedition Laws in India: Analysis of Section 152 Of BNS and Section 124 A of IPC’ (2025) 2 Journal of Law and Legal Research Development 9-14.

[18] Ali SMA and Mukhopadhyay P, “Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: Decolonizing Criminal Law or Colonial Continuities?” [2024] International Annals of Criminology 1.

[19] Rajesh Aadi, “Freedom of Speech and Sedition in Post- Colonial Democracies: Lessons from Kenya, Ghana and South Africa for India” (2024) 12 Acta Humana 114.

[20] Ibid.

[21] Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996, ch 2 s 7. ​

[22] Rajesh Aadi, “Freedom of Speech and Sedition in Post- Colonial Democracies: Lessons from Kenya, Ghana and South Africa for India” (2024) 12 Acta Humana 109.

[23] Ibid.

[24] Nivedita Saksena and Siddhartha Srivastava, 'An Analysis of the Modern Offence of Sedition' (2014) 7 NUJS L Rev 121.

[25] Hussainara Khatoon & Ors v Home Secretary, State of Bihar (1979) 3 SCR 532.

[26] Jitasha Bahl, 'Sedition Laws in India' (2021) 2 Law Essentials J 85.

[27] Tara Singh v The State [1951] SCR 729. ​

[28] Constitution of India 1950, art 19(1)(a). ​

[29] Constitution of India 1950, art 19(2).

[30] Ram Nandan v State of Uttar Pradesh AIR 1959 All 101. ​

[31] Manisha Kumari & Chandermohan Aashish, 'Sedition Law: A Boon or Bane' (2022) 4 Indian JL & Legal Rsch 1.

[32] Kedar Nath Singh v State of Bihar AIR 1962 SC 955.

[33] Balwant Singh v State of Punjab AIR 1995 SC 1785.

[34] Rajesh Aadi, “Freedom of Speech and Sedition in Post- Colonial Democracies: Lessons from Kenya, Ghana and South Africa for India” (2024) 12 Acta Humana 109.

[35] Ibid.

[36] S.G. Vombatkere v Union of India (2022) 7 SCC 433.​

[37] Law Commission of India, Usage of the Law of Sedition (Law Com No 279, 2023).

[38] The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, s 152.

[39] Ali SMA and Mukhopadhyay P, “Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: Decolonizing Criminal Law or Colonial Continuities?” [2024] International Annals of Criminology 1.

[40] Yick Wo v. Hopkins (1886) 118 U.S.

[41] Momna Taufeeq & Umer A. Ranjha, 'Decolonisation of Section 124A of the PPC: A Critical Analysis of the Law of Sedition' (2024) 15 PLR 115.

[42] Constitution of India 1950, art 19(1)(a).

[43] Constitution of India 1950, art 19(2).

@article{1713902,
      author = {Ayush Patel},
      title = {Free Speech and Sedition Laws in India: Conflict or Compatibility?},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {9},
      number = {7},
      pages = {2448-2453},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1713902.pdf},
      abstract = {The ability of humans to express themselves has led to speech and the right to speak further got interrelated with the right to express. These rights of expression through speech are now seen as foundational rights to a liberal and democratic society. Democratic Societies have been philosophically seen as emphasizing liberty, autonomy and truth by thinkers such as John Stuart Mill and Ronald Dworkin.},
      month = {January},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I7-1713902}
  }