Post by Tisha Manek

Had the incredible opportunity to engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Abhinav Chandrachud. Dr. Chandrachud is the son of Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, who served as the 50th Chief Justice of India, and comes from a family legacy that includes his grandfather, Justice Y. V. Chandrachud, the longest‑serving CJI in India’s history The constitutional promise of free speech and the evolving challenges to dissent in today’s legal and political landscape was discussed. Dr. Chandrachud’s insights on the role of the judiciary in safeguarding fundamental rights, and his reflections on recent landmark judgments, were truly inspiring. One of the most compelling parts of the discussion was his take on the law of sedition in India. He traced its colonial origins and compared its continued existence in Indian law to its near-total abolition in English law — raising crucial questions about why we continue to retain such colonial-era provisions and the implications this has on democratic discourse.