The above line sounds like a dialogue from Ekta Kapoors dirty picture doesn’t it? Well, our government has put this dirty picture in front of us by promising us the so-called ‘acche din’. There has been crisis all over india during this pandemic and our central government is just nudging these more. People are dying, women are getting raped, even the patients are getting raped! There’s a shortage of medical supplies there’s a shortage of electricity! Never thought india was so primitive even at their basic needs. There has been a suppression on the criticism given by the citizens on the government bodies, A bench headed by justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said that “It is a matter of grave concerns to us. If citizens communicate their grievances either on the Internet or on social media, there cannot be a clampdown. We don’t want a clampdown of information. That’s the worst way of dealing with a crisis”. Such are the highlightened conditions in India and the government gives us the dilemma of improving social conditions well, to tell you the truth its not.
The Art Of Dissolving Dissent
“I always say the strength of democracy lies in criticism. If there is no criticism, that means there is no democracy. And if you want to grow, you must invite criticism. And I want to grow; I want to invite criticism” – these were the words of our respected prime minister narendra modi to us, it has been observed in many BJP governed states that criticism was not handled seriously or in a way, it was handled too seriously that they had to put criminal charges against people either criticizing or just for asking help on the internet.
The prime example of such ‘incident’ can be taken from Umesh Kumar Sharma V State of Uttarakhand
In this recognised case, By 124-A IPC Umesh Sharma was booked and had to spent 1 month in jail until the uttrakhand HC quashed this sedition case by asserting that “ unless public functionaries are criticized, democracy cannot be strengthened, if dissent is suppressed by sedition law, it would make democracy weak. Criticising the government can never be sedition”
The purpose of sedition is not to stifle free speech or criticism underscored, instead taking the criticism in a positive way and developing on it. Increase sedition is seen in the last 2 to 3 years without sufficient reasons, this leads to question our authorities and if we made a right choice in choosing this government.
Another example can be taken from a landmark judgement of Kedar Nath Singh V state of Bihar & ors where the journalist criticised the ruling party – Congress govt back then and was apprehended under the sedition charges of section 124-A IPC. However the apex court ruled that disapproval of the measures of government with a view of improving or alteration by lawful means is not sedition It held that “comments, however strongly worded, expressing disapprobation of actions of the Government, without exciting those feelings which generate the inclination to cause public disorder by acts of violence” would not attract the penal offence.
“A citizen has a right to say or write whatever he likes about the Government, or its measures, by way of criticism or comment, so long as he does not incite people to violence against the Government established by law or with the intention of creating public disorder,” it further maintained.
In an interview with Madan Lokur the former supreme court judge said that “sedition law is being used indiscriminately. It is time this should be stop. Enough is enough, It is a tool to muzzle free speech and is being used so frequently.
Therefore the time has come for supreme court to examine colonial era sedition law and to see if its compatible with our constitutional freedom, given its frequent abuse.
Aishwarya Says:
I have always been against Glorifying Over Work and therefore, in the year 2021, I have decided to launch this campaign “Balancing Life”and talk about this wrong practice, that we have been following since last few years. I will be talking to and interviewing around 1 lakh people in the coming 2021 and publish their interview regarding their opinion on glamourising Over Work.
If you are interested in participating in the same, do let me know.
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