Witty Cartoons, Caricatures Against Govt Can’t Attract Sedition Charges : Mumbai HC

18 March,Mumbai

The Bombay High Court has ruled that witty and humorous cartoons and caricatures against government cannot attract sedition charges.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice GS Kulkarni said that citizens have the right to say and write anything against the government and sedition charges can be imposed only when these writings or saying incite violence or causes public disorder.

The court made these observations while hearing a PIL that was filed after the arrest of cartoonist Aseem Trivedi on charges of sedition for drawing cartoons that allegedly insulted the national emblem and Parliament.

The court said that Trivedi’s cartoons, which were a part of the anti-corruption crusade initiated by Anna Hazare; displayed anger and disgust but did nothing to invoke any violence.

While disposing off the petition Tuesday , the court directed the Maharashtra government to firmly implement the guidelines issued in this regard.

Accordingly, the state government will now have to ensure that criticism of political leaders or government per se will not call for pressing of sedition charge.

It also says that police officials should seek legal opinion in writing from the law officer, followed by that of the public prosecutor, before applying sedition charge against any person.