No Proposal To Scrap Sedition Offence Under Section 124A IPC : Centre Tells Lok Sabha
Live LawUnion Law Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Lok Sabha by a written reply that there is no proposal to scrap sedition law. Mr. Rijiju stated in his response that no such observations regarding Sedition law being colonial in nature or it being misused have been found in any judgement/order delivered by the Supreme Court of India. Ltd & Another vs The State of Andhra Pradesh & Others, the Hon'ble Supreme Court vide its order dated 31.05.2021, under para, has inter alia observed that "the ambit and parameters of the provisions of Sections 124A, 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 would require interpretation, particularly in the context of the right of the electronic and print media to communicate news, information and the rights, even those that may be critical of the prevailing regime in any part of the nation." In this light, the Minister has stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs has no proposal under consideration to scrap Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code. In July this year, Chief Justice of India N.V.Ramana, while hearing a petition challenging S.124A of the Indian Penal Code has expressed alarm at the rampant misuse of sedition law in the country.