Technoglitch
Core Member
People trying to bring change in government through legal means will not face sedition charge in Maharashtra, but those attempting to bring into "hatred or contempt, dissatisfaction and provoking violence" against the central or state government will be slapped with sedition charges.
The circular containing these guidelines says sedition clause can be invoked against "whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representation, is critical of politicians, elected representatives belonging to the government".
They were issued in compliance with an assurance given to the Bombay High Court by state government while dropping sedition charge against cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, arrested in 2012 for drawing cartoons that allegedly insulted the national emblem and Parliament.
"Powers to invoke different Sections of IPC are with the station officer. Government can issue guidelines, hence, we have done so to avoid confusion among different police stations," he said today.
The circular asks police to bear in mind that the sedition clause of IPC can be invoked against 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, dissatisfaction and provoking violence" against the central or state government.
However, the section 124-A will not be invoked against those trying to bring change in government through legal means without hatred and contempt, it said.
'Criticism' of Govt, Politicians Becomes a Seditious Crime in Maharashtra | Sep 04,2015
The circular containing these guidelines says sedition clause can be invoked against "whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representation, is critical of politicians, elected representatives belonging to the government".
They were issued in compliance with an assurance given to the Bombay High Court by state government while dropping sedition charge against cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, arrested in 2012 for drawing cartoons that allegedly insulted the national emblem and Parliament.
"Powers to invoke different Sections of IPC are with the station officer. Government can issue guidelines, hence, we have done so to avoid confusion among different police stations," he said today.
The circular asks police to bear in mind that the sedition clause of IPC can be invoked against 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, dissatisfaction and provoking violence" against the central or state government.
However, the section 124-A will not be invoked against those trying to bring change in government through legal means without hatred and contempt, it said.
'Criticism' of Govt, Politicians Becomes a Seditious Crime in Maharashtra | Sep 04,2015
