How Democracy 'Uses' a Colonial Law

Geelani had been booked under Sections 124A (sedition), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 149 (unlawful assembly) on 12 February, in relation to the raising of "anti-national" slogans at an event organised in the Press Club in New Delhi on 10 February. At this hour it needs to be remembered that the Supreme Court in the Kedar Nath Singh v State of Bihar Verdict (1962) established that the charge of sedition can only be sustained in the instance of incitement to violence in a speech, not for advocacy. In another progressive judgment, the Supreme Court in 1995 in the Balwant Singh v State of Punjab case set aside the charge of sedition in relation to anti-India slogans raised-"Khalistan ZindabadHindustan Murdabad."