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Secrets, Security & the State Decoding the Official Secrets Act, 1923
Book Description
Secrets, Security & the Decoding the Official Secrets Act, 1923
By Narayanaswamy.R
Advocate, High Court of Karnataka
In a world driven by information, one question stands at the heart of every how much should the State keep secret, and how much should the people know?
Secrets, Security & the State is a gripping and timely exploration of one of India’s most under-examined yet powerful laws the Official Secrets Act, 1923. Originally crafted during British colonial rule, this law still governs how India handles secrecy, national security, media freedom, and whistleblower protection in the 21st century. With governments invoking it to block information and silence dissent, and citizens often unaware of its reach, this book arrives as a much-needed legal compass.
Through detailed analysis, simple explanations, real-world case studies, and global comparisons, this book colonial origins and continued relevance of the Official Secrets ActSection-wise breakdowns explained in everyday languageHow the law has impacted journalists, whistleblowers, and government officialsThe tension between transparency (RTI) and secrecy (OSA)Cases like the ISRO spy scandal, war room leaks, and moreLegal comparisons with the UK's updated OSA and the U.S. Espionage ActProposals for reform and how India can protect both national interest and civil libertiesPractical guides on what is legal, what is not, and how to stay safe while navigating sensitive informationWhether you're a law student, a journalist, a civil servant, or a curious citizen, this book will equip you with the legal literacy to understand, question, and engage with the secrecy mechanisms of the Indian State. Written in a style that is accessible yet authoritative, Secrets, Security & the State demystifies a complex legal subject with clarity and courage.
In a time when free speech, national security, and the right to know collide more than ever, this book isn’t just relevant it’s essential.
Secrets, Security & the Decoding the Official Secrets Act, 1923
By Narayanaswamy.R
Advocate, High Court of Karnataka
In a world driven by information, one question stands at the heart of every how much should the State keep secret, and how much should the people know?
Secrets, Security & the State is a gripping and timely exploration of one of India’s most under-examined yet powerful laws the Official Secrets Act, 1923. Originally crafted during British colonial rule, this law still governs how India handles secrecy, national security, media freedom, and whistleblower protection in the 21st century. With governments invoking it to block information and silence dissent, and citizens often unaware of its reach, this book arrives as a much-needed legal compass.
Through detailed analysis, simple explanations, real-world case studies, and global comparisons, this book colonial origins and continued relevance of the Official Secrets ActSection-wise breakdowns explained in everyday languageHow the law has impacted journalists, whistleblowers, and government officialsThe tension between transparency (RTI) and secrecy (OSA)Cases like the ISRO spy scandal, war room leaks, and moreLegal comparisons with the UK's updated OSA and the U.S. Espionage ActProposals for reform and how India can protect both national interest and civil libertiesPractical guides on what is legal, what is not, and how to stay safe while navigating sensitive informationWhether you're a law student, a journalist, a civil servant, or a curious citizen, this book will equip you with the legal literacy to understand, question, and engage with the secrecy mechanisms of the Indian State. Written in a style that is accessible yet authoritative, Secrets, Security & the State demystifies a complex legal subject with clarity and courage.
In a time when free speech, national security, and the right to know collide more than ever, this book isn’t just relevant it’s essential.
47 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2025
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