Colonial Origin and Modern Interpretation of Sedition Law: A Constitutional Analysis of Freedom of Speech in India

Author(s)	Aditya Lallanprasad Jaiswal
Country	India
Abstract	The law of sedition in India originated during British colonial rule through Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, mainly to suppress political dissent and nationalist movements. After independence, its compatibility with the constitutional right to freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a) became controversial. Although the Supreme Court in Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar limited sedition to acts involving incitement to violence, concerns over misuse against journalists, activists, and political critics continued. The replacement of Section 124A with Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 has renewed debates on free speech, national security, and democratic rights in India.
Keywords	Sedition, Section 124A IPC, Section 152 BNS, Article 19(1)(a), Freedom of speech, Kedarnath Singh, Constitutional Democracy, Chilling effect, BNS reform
Field	Sociology > Administration / Law / Management
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On	2026-05-29
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i03.79738

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