New Delhi : In a historic decision, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that the Controvertial 152-year old sedition law under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code Should be effectively kept on Hold till the Union Government review it.
In an interim order, the Court urged the Centre and the State governments to refrain from registering any FIRs under the said provision while it was under Reconsideration.
The controversial sedition law will be paused while the government reviews it, the Supreme Court said today in a landmark order that impacts hundreds charged under the colonial-era relic. Those jailed for sedition can approach courts for bail.
“It will be appropriate not to use this provision of law till further re-examination is over. We hope and expect that centre and state will refrain from registering any FIR under 124 A (sedition law) or initiate proceeding under the same till re-examination is over,” said Chief Justice NV Ramana.
Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioners, said there were over 800 cases of sedition across India and 13,000 people were in jail.
