Haryana Judicial Service (Civil Judge) Prelims 2010 Previous Year Question Papers with MCQ Answers

According to the legal dictionary, sedition is defined as "speech or conduct that incites people to rebel against a lawful authority". The crime of sedition requires that the speech or conduct must have the intent of destroying or overthrowing the government.

Therefore, the correct option is D: Words spoken must be capable of exciting disaffection towards the Government. This means that the words must be able to arouse hatred, contempt, or dissatisfaction against the government in the minds of the listeners or readers. This is the essential ingredient of sedition, as it shows the intention of the speaker or writer to incite rebellion.

Option A, dishonest intention, is not correct because it is not enough to prove sedition. A person may have dishonest intentions for other reasons, such as personal gain or malice, but not necessarily to overthrow the government.

Option B, mala fide intention, is also not correct because it is too vague and subjective. Mala fide means bad faith or ill will, but it does not specify what kind of bad faith or ill will. It could be directed towards anyone or anything, not necessarily the government.

Option C, words spoken must cause public disorder by acts of violence, is not correct because it is too narrow and specific. Sedition does not require that the words must actually cause public disorder or violence, but only that they must be capable of doing so. The potential effect of the words is more important than the actual effect.