Maharashtra curbs criticism of politicians

Criticism of a politician or a public servant, in the form of words, signs or representations, can attract sedition charges under Section 124 A of the Indian Penal Code if it shows them as representatives of the Union or the State governments, says the Government Resolution issued by the Home Department of Maharashtra. The guidelines in the resolution say criticism in this form, which may cause disaffection with, or enmity and disloyalty to, the Centre or the State government will be treated as sedition. This comes after a “submission” made by the Advocate-General in the Bombay High Court in a case involving political activist and cartoonist Aseem Trivedi that the Home Department would issue these guidelines in the form of a circular to all policemen