The High Court handed down a historic judgement today, January 13, when it ruled that Sections 3 and 4 of the Sedition Act are unconstitutional.

The decision was made by Justice Frank Seepersad who said the acts impose disproportionate and unjustified restrictions on a citizen’s free speech, expression and thought.

The matter was brought before the court last year, by deceased secretary general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) Sat Maharaj and the SDMS media house Central Broadcasting Services Ltd.

The decision immediately affects some matters like President of the Public Services Association Watson Duke, as it means that there will be an immediate halt to the preliminary inquiry which was brought against him. Duke was supposed to face the court over statements that he made during a protest at TSTT, in 2018.