Professional Documents
Culture Documents
COMPETITION, 2023
IN THE MATTER OF
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviations Expansion
& And
AIR All India Reporter
Art... Article
Ed. Edition
Govt. Government
HC High Court
Hon’ble Honorable
IC Indian Cases
ILR Indian Law Report
UAPA, 1967 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967
CrPc Code of Criminal Procedure
Ors. Others
¶ Paragraph(s)
PIL Public Interest Litigation
IPC, 1860 Indian Penal Code, 1860
SC Supreme Court
SCC Supreme Court Cases
§ Section(s)
U.O. I Union of India
U/A Under Article
U/S Under Section
v. Versus
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION
The counsel for the Appellants, Student Council of LBU, Sharjeel Imam and RHR hereby
humbly submit to this Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Jurisdiction under Article 134 and under
Article 32, of the Constitution of Rastan.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
The students filed a writ petition in the High Court of Zila to challenge their arrest and the
charges against them. They argued that the charges of sedition and UAPA were arbitrary and
violated their right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. However, the High
Court upheld their arrest, stating that the celebration and slogans used were seditious and
amounted to creating disaffection towards the government. It also held that the UAPA was
valid in dealing with terrorism and that the right to freedom of speech and expression was not
absolute.
In February 2021, Sharjeel Imam, a student from Zelhi University, was arrested for delivering
inflammatory speeches at various places, calling for the secession of eastern states of Rastan.
He was booked under sedition laws and the UAPA. Sharjeel argued that his speeches were
academic and political in nature, exercising his freedom of speech and expression.
The High Court's Decision Sharjeel Imam filed a writ petition challenging his arrest, arguing
that his speeches did not incite violence or hatred. However, the High Court upheld his arrest,
SUBSEQUENT ADVANCES
In response to the incidents and arrests, a group of civil society activists and NGOs, led by
Rastan for Human Rights (RHR), filed a PIL in the Supreme Court of Rastan. They
challenged the constitutional validity of Section 124A of the RPC and various sections of the
UAPA, arguing that these laws were colonial relics and violated the basic structure of the
Constitution.
The Supreme Court admitted both the appeals and the PIL and issued notices to the Central
and State governments and police authorities. The court scheduled the final hearing for
July/August 2023.
ISSUES RAISED
-I-
Whether Section 124A of RPC is violative of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution?
-II-
Whether Sections 15, 16, 17, 18, 38, 39, 40 of UAPA are violative of Articles
14, 19, 20, 21, and 22 of the Constitution?
-III-
Whether the arrest and detention of the students under Section 124A of RPC and various
sections of UAPA valid?
-IV-
Whether RHR has locus standi to file a PIL challenging Section 124A of RPC and
UAPA?
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS
-II- WHETHER SECTIONS 15, 16, 17, 18, 38, 39 AND 40 OF UAPA ARE
VIOLATIVE OF ARTICLES 14, 19, 20, 21,22 OF THE CONSTITUTION
ARGUMENTS ADVANCED
It is humbly submitted before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of Rastan that section 124A of
RPC is violative to freedom of speech and expression under article 19(1)(a).
1. As per the facts, the students of the Lal Bahadaur Shastri University (LBSU) and
Sharjeel Imam were accused of celebrating the victory of Pakora in the T20 cricket
and raising Anti India Chants and Slogans of Azaadi respectively. It is imminently
clear that their acts did not create any Public Disorder or any incitement of violence,
nor do they fall within the ambit of Section 124A of IPC,1860.
2. Freedom of speech, considered the basic freedom by most philosophical thinkers,
consists of several facets, including the right to express one’s opinion unhindered,
unfettered by the fear of retribution. It is one of the most basic elements for a healthy,
open-minded democracy and is foundation of any democratic society1.
1.1 Under Indian Constitution Freedom of speech and expression has been guaranteed
under Article 19(1)(a)
3. It is humbly submitted that when it comes to democracy, liberty of thought and
expression is a cardinal value that is of paramount significance under our
constitutional scheme. However this right is subject to reasonable restrictions being
imposed under Article 19(2) . The freedom to air ones views is the lifeline of every
democratic institution and any attempt to stifle, suffocate this right would be
inconsistent with the democratic setup. So, it can be construed that freedom of
speech, is crucial to the working of a democratic Constitution and is an aspect of
human self-fulfilment or autonomy.
1.2 There was no incitement to an offence or public disorder caused, hence the offence
of Sedition has not been committed
8. It is submitted that The Constitution of India does not define the word sedition. Section
124-A of the Indian Penal Code defines the offence of ‘Sedition’ and provides as follows
“Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or
otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite
disaffection towards, the Government established by law in India7, As per the Indian law,
sedition is any form of speech, action, writing that incites hatred against the established order
and harms the systematic peace of the country.8
10
1962 AIR 955
11
1962 AIR 955
12
Sanskar Marathe V. State of Maharathra, Cri.PIL 3-2015
13
Kedarnath V. State of Bihar , AIR 1962 SC 955
14
Artcile 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
16. With reference to facts of the present case18 in Gurjatinder Pal Singh V. State of
Punjab19, Punjab & Haryana HC quashed the FIR filed against him under Section
124A of the IPC, where in a religious ceremony organised in memory of the
martyrs during Operation Blue Star, the petitioner gave a speech to the people
present advocating the establishment “Khalistan”. He stated that the Constitution
was a “worthless/useless” books for the Sikhs. The supporters of the petitioner
15
Article 19(2) of The Constitution of India, 1950
16
Dr VinayakBinayak Sen 2 Pijush ... V. State Of Chhattisgarh, Criminal Appeal No 20 of 2011
17
Sanskar Marathe V. State of Maharashtra , Cri.PIL 3-2015
18
Moot Proposition (Para 2)
19
(2009) 3 RCR (Cri) 224
25
Hanif Qureshi V. State of Bihar AIR 1958 SC 731
-II- WHETHER SECTIONS 15, 16, 17, 18, 38, 39 AND 40 OF UAPA ARE
VIOLATIVE OF ARTICLES 14, 19, 20, 21,22 OF THE CONSTITUTION
1. Public Interest Litigation (PIL) refers to such legal action which is initiated in a court
of law in order to enforce the public interest or general interest in which the common
people have some interest by which their legal right or liability is affected. The PIL is
a tool to safeguard the socially disadvantaged communities who cannot represent
themselves and claim justice in a court of law.
2. Any individual or organisation can file a PIL either in his/her/their own standing i.e.
to protect or enforce a right owed to him/her/them by the government or on behalf of
a section of society who is disadvantaged or oppressed and is not able to enforce their
own rights. RHR is an NGO, i.e., a Non-Governmental Organization who has a locus
standi to file a PIL on behalf of number of people.
3. According to the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, Order XXXVIII talks about filing PIL
under Article 32 of the Constitution. Sec 12(1)(d) of Order XXXVIII of SC Rules
clearly mentions that a PIL can be filed by presenting a petition. Correspondingly,
RHR, an NGO, has rightfully filed a petition for PIL.
4. In the case of S.P Gupta vs Union of India (1982), the Supreme Court observed that in
India a large number of persons are exploited and ignorant of their legal rights. These
weaker sections of the country are not in a position to approach the court for judicial
remedy. So, in order to provide justice to these people, the principle of locus standi
should be relaxed. It further held that whenever the legal rights of a person or class of
persons is violated and by any reason they cannot approach the court, then any public-
spirited person can file a petition on behalf of them under Articles 226 and 32 of the
PRAYER
2. TO DECLARE that Sections 15, 16, 17, 18, 38, 39 and 40 of UAPA are violative of
Articles 14, 19, 20, 21 and 22 of the Constitution.
3. TO DECLARE that the arrest and detention of various students under Section 124A of
RPC and various sections of UAPA is not valid.
4. TO DECLARE that RHR has the locus standi to file PIL challenging Section 124A of RPC
and UAPA.
AND
PASS ANY OTHER ORDER, DIRECTION, OR RELIEF THAT THIS HON’BLE COURT
MAY DEEM FIT IN THE INTERESTS OF JUSTICE, EQUITY & GOOD CONSCIENCE.
FOR THIS ACT OF KINDNESS, THE RESPONDENT SHALL BE DUTY BOUND
FOREVER.