Supreme Court questions Centre on Sedition Law
The Apex court observed that the sedition law was introduced by the Britishers as a law against freedom fighters.
NEW DELHI:
The Supreme Court (SC) has questioned the central government on the validity of the sedition law of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and its relevance 75 years after independence.
The Apex court observed that the sedition law was introduced by the Britishers as a law against freedom fighters.
The SC bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana, on Thursday, asked the centre why the law cannot be repealed when other state laws have been repealed in the past.
"I do not know why the government is not looking into repealing Section 124A (which deals with the offence of sedition) of the IPC," CJI Ramana asked Attorney General KK Venugopal.
The Bench backed the repeal, stating that the law was introduced to suppress the freedom movement, and the same law was used against Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Political parties use 124A if they do not like what the other party is saying, the court observed, adding that it curtails the functioning of individuals and parties likewise.
The Bench cited many examples of journalists and others who were charged with sedition in the past and how freedom of speech is being curtailed.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General representing the central government told the bench that Section 124A need not be struck down and only guidelines have to be set out so that the section meets its legal purpose.
(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)
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