What do you understand by the terms ‘Sedition’ and ‘rule of law’? In what ways does the Sedition Act of 1870 contradict the rule of law?
Answers
Answer:
Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organisation, that tends toward rebellion against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent toward, or rebellion against, established authority. ... Seditious words in writing are seditious libel.
The term “Rule of Law” is derived from the French phrase 'La Principe de Legality' (the principle of legality) which refers to a government based on principles of law and not of men. [1] In a broader sense Rule of Law means that Law is supreme and is above every individual.
● Under the sedition act of 1870, introduced by the British government, they had the supreme authority to arrest or detain any person without a fair trial in the court if he was seen protesting or criticizing the British authority.
● The meaning of sedition was understood in a very broad manner by the British.
● The Nationalist considered this rule to be arbitrary because the people were arrested for many reasons which were not justified. They were then kept in jail for a significant duration of time.
● This law contradicted the rule of law because it did not allow the trial of the arrested people.
● The people were held in jails for a very long of time and the reason behind the arrest was often unknown to them.
● Moreover, there was no sense of equality and the idea of law was very different from the set of rules that they were forced to obey.
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