Central Government to Reexamine Sedition Law

CASE: SG Vombatkere vs Union of India

SECTION 124A OF IPC: Sedition 

Recently, the Central government informed the Apex Court that it has decided to re-examine Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which criminalises the offence of sedition.

An affidavit was filed in response to several petitions challenging the colonial provision. In July 2021, the Supreme Court issued a notice in the matter and questioned the Central government on whether the law was required 75 years after independence. The Court had also sought the aid of the Attorney General in the matter.

Given the same, the Central Government filed an affidavit filed before the top court stating that the government's vision is to shed colonial baggage when the country is marking its 75th year of independence. Therefore, the government has decided to reconsider various colonial laws. It requested the SC not to invest its time in examining Section 124A for the time being and to await for the Government of India to reconsider the law.

Currently, the case is being heard by a 3-judge Bench of the Apex Court.