Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Sedition redux: On trampling on press freedom

​Sedition redux: On trampling on press freedom

New sedition law threatens freedom of expression further

Filing frivolous (तुच्छ) cases against publications and summoning journalists without proper investigation or perusal (अवलोकन, गहन अध्ययन) of material evidence have become a part of the police playbook in States ruled by vindictive (प्रतिशोधी, प्रतिहिंसक) politicians who brook no criticism. The Assam Police’s decision to reportedly summon the founding editor Siddharth Varadarajan and consulting editor Karan Thapar of The Wire under Section 152, among others, of the BNS, is yet another case of the state trampling (रौंदना, कुचलना) on press freedom. The fact that the summons were issued by the Guwahati Crime Branch to the journalists in a fresh sedition (राजद्रोह, विद्रोह भड़काना) FIR on the same day, August 12, 2025, when the Supreme Court had issued notice on The Wire’s petition challenging the constitutional validity of the new sedition law (Section 152) and had protected them from any “coercive (बलपूर्वक, जबरदस्ती का) action” by the Assam Police, makes these actions egregious (घोर, कुख्यात). The summons, apart from another one related to a case registered at the Morigaon Police Station, seem to pertain to a report in The Wire on Operation Sindoor. The Wire has also pointed to other disturbing issues — the summons do not carry the FIR date or provide any details of the alleged offence or include a copy of the FIR — all of which are mandatory according to the BNSS sections associated with the summons. In addition, keeping the FIRs secret and not mentioning the reasons for the summons hint at police intimidation (धमकाना, डराना).

Critics of Section 152 had rightly feared that it was a rebranded version of the colonial-era sedition law, whose cases the Court had kept in abeyance in 2022. Section 152 has even more expansive and dangerous provisions, setting the bar much lower for prosecution than the previous sedition law. Terms such as “knowingly” could allow for prosecution even where there was no malicious (दुर्भावनापूर्ण, हानिकारक) intent to cause harm, unlike Section 124A’s strict requirement to prove clear intent to incite disaffection. The vague language around “sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India” provides dangerous latitude to law enforcement agencies. Even legitimate acts such as criticism of government policy could be construed as “endangering unity”. Without clear definitions or safeguards, Section 152 can target individuals for merely expressing opinions that authorities deem threatening. This law’s invocation against journalists questioning government narratives creates a chilling effect on press freedom. The Court’s intervention (हस्तक्षेप, दखल) in The Wire’s case, to examine Section 152’s constitutional validity while protecting journalists from coercive action, acknowledges the potential for abuse. However, the Assam Police’s defiant (Showing resistance or bold disobedience) response suggests that without stronger judicial oversight and clearer guidelines, Section 152 will continue to be weaponised against dissent. The onus now lies on the Court to recognise the unconstitutionality (The state of being against or violating the constitution) of the sedition laws, in their earlier form or rebranded, which have no place in a democratic society.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Frivolous (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - तुच्छ
English Meaning - Lacking seriousness or importance.

2.Vindictive (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिशोधी, प्रतिहिंसक
English Meaning - Having or showing a strong desire for revenge.

3.Trample (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - रौंदना, कुचलना
English Meaning - To crush or destroy by walking heavily on something.

4.Sedition (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - राजद्रोह, विद्रोह भड़काना
English Meaning - Conduct or speech inciting rebellion against authority.

5.Coercive (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - बलपूर्वक, जबरदस्ती का
English Meaning - Using force or threats to make someone do something.

6.Egregious (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - घोर, कुख्यात
English Meaning - Extremely bad or shocking.

7.Intimidation (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - धमकाना, डराना
English Meaning - The act of frightening or threatening someone.

8.Malicious (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - दुर्भावनापूर्ण, हानिकारक
English Meaning - Intended to harm or hurt someone.

9.Intervention (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - हस्तक्षेप, दखल
English Meaning - The act of interfering or becoming involved in something to change the outcome.

10.Perusal (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - अवलोकन, गहन अध्ययन
English Meaning - The act of reading or examining carefully.

11.Defiant (Adjective)

English Meaning - Showing resistance or bold disobedience.

12.Unconstitutionality (Noun)

English Meaning - The state of being against or violating the constitution.