New Delhi: Now that Kanpur-based cartoonist Aseem Trivedi has been charged with sedition for his cartoons that 'mocked' the country's political class, Parliament and the national emblem, one has to bear in mind that the word "sedition" does not actually figure anywhere in the Indian Constitution. It is an offence against the state as enumerated in the Indian Penal Code which is an 1860 Act ratified by the British to rule over Indians. Section 124 A of the IPC was drawn up in 1860, just three years after the British East India Company had weathered the storm of the Sepoy Mutiny.
So yes, the case against Aseem is registered under Section 124A of the IPC that is an 1860 Act which defines sedition as: "Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government established by law in India, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine."
A member of Repubican Party of India, Amit Katarnayea, had filed a complaint against Trivedi that the latter had put up banners mocking the Indian constitution during the Anna Hazare rally held last year at the Bandra Kurla Complex.
Before Aseem, Dr Binayak Sen was also charged under the same
12:07 PM, Sep 10, 2012
"Read the Constitution of India with IBNLive" seeks to bring us close to the Constitution that governs us. The Indian Constitution is a living and dynamic document and we, the people of India, need to be aware of our rights and duties as citizens and to hold the government that we elect to its responsibility as enshrined in the Constitution. Subhash C Kashyap an expert on the Constitution of India...
02:07 PM, Jun 18, 2012
36. Definition."In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, the State has the same meaning as in Part III. 37. Application of the principles contained in this Part."The provisions contained in this Part shall not be enforceable by any court, but the principles therein laid down are nevertheless fundamental in the governance of the country and it shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making...
10:37 AM, Jun 04, 2012
"Read the Constitution of India with IBNLive" seeks to bring us close to the Constitution that governs us. The Indian Constitution is a living and dynamic document and we, the people of India, need to be aware of our rights and duties as citizens and to hold the government that we elect to its responsibility as enshrined in the Constitution. It is precisely because the Indian Constitution is a social...
12:10 PM, May 25, 2012
As citizens of India, we all have certain duties, rights and so does the government that governs us. It is all enshrined in the Constitution of India, a document with which our relationship is remote if not virtually non-existent. Many of us study it in a mechanical way in the high school and college years but the contents rarely sink in. "Read the Constitution of India with IBNLive" seeks to...
09:16 AM, May 15, 2012
New Delhi: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, addressed the nation on the eve of the 63rd Republic Day and stressed on reforms, economy, democracy and women empowerment among other subjects. Following is the text of the President's address on the occasion: Dear Citizens, On the eve of our 63rd Republic Day, I convey my warmest greetings to all of you across the country, from every walk of life and in different...
11:22 PM, Jan 25, 2012
