Himachal Pradesh High Court Rules Peace Overtures Not Sedition

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has clarified that expressing a desire for peace and an end to animosity between India and Pakistan does not constitute sedition. The court made this observation while granting bail to Abhishek Singh Bhardwaj, who was accused of uploading images of banned weapons and the Pakistani flag on Facebook. Bhardwaj was arrested based on an informant's tip, with allegations including sharing photos and videos of prohibited arms and the Pakistani flag, contacting a Pakistani national, criticizing 'Operation Sindoor,' and raising 'Khalistan Zindabad' slogans. However, no objectionable material was recovered during his arrest. The court noted that the accused had criticized the India-Pakistan tension, opined that war yields no benefit, and advocated for interfaith harmony. Justice Rakesh Kainthala stated that wishing for peace and opposing war cannot be termed as sedition. The court also found no concrete evidence of intent to cause discontent or rebellion against the government. Regarding the 'Khalistan Zindabad' slogan, the court ruled that merely posting a slogan, without evidence of instigating discontent or rebellion, is not an offense in itself. The court emphasized that bail provisions should not be used to punish an individual before conviction. Strict bail conditions were imposed, including not tampering with evidence, attending all hearings, not changing address without informing court and police, and submitting passport and mobile/social media details.