New Sedition Law Threatens Freedom of Expression in India

• The Assam Police has been accused of threatening freedom of expression by summoning journalists under Section 152 of the BNS.

• The summons were issued by the Guwahati Crime Branch to journalists in a fresh sedition FIR on the same day as the Supreme Court’s notice on The Wire’s petition challenging the constitutional validity of the new sedition law.

• The summons do not carry the FIR date, provide details of the alleged offence, or include a copy of the FIR.

• The summons do not mention the reasons for the summons, hinting at police intimidation.

• Critics of Section 152 fear it is a rebranded version of the colonial-era sedition law.

• Section 152 has more expansive and dangerous provisions, setting the bar much lower for prosecution than the previous sedition law.

• The law’s invocation against journalists questioning government narratives creates a chilling effect on press freedom.

• The Court’s intervention in The Wire’s case acknowledges the potential for abuse, but the Assam Police’s defiant response suggests that without stronger judicial oversight and clearer guidelines, Section 152 will continue to be weaponised against dissent.

End Sedition, Ensure Freedom is important topic for Civil service exam (WBCS).

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