Breaking: Will Re-examine & Reconsider Section 124A IPC: Centre Tells Supreme Court

The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Monday through an affidavit that it has chosen to reexamine and reconsider Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises the offence of sedition. 

The affidavit was filed in a batch of petitions filed by journalists, activists, NGOs and political leaders challenging the constitutional validity of Section 124A IPC. 

The Centre submitted that there are divergent views expressed in the public domain by various jurists, academicians, intellectuals and citizens in general regarding this Section. 

The Union has stated in the affidavit that in tune with the Prime Minister's notion that at a time when our nation is marking 75 years of independence, it intends to work towards shedding the 'colonial baggage' while justifying its decision.

In that spirit, the Centre submitted that it has scrapped over 1500 outdated laws since 2014-15. It has also ended over 25,000 compliance burdens which were causing unnecessary hurdles to the people of our country. Various offences which were causing mindless hindrances to people have been decriminalised, the affidavit said.

"This is an ongoing process. These were laws and compliances which reeked of a colonial mindset and thus have no place in today's India." 

The Union thereby prayed that the Court may not invest its tie in examining the validity of the impugned Section once again and be pleased to await the exercise of consideration to be undertaken by the Government before an appropriate forum where such consideration is constitutionally permitted. 

"The Government of India being fully cognizant of various views being expressed on the subject of sedition and also having considered the concerns of civil liberties and human rights, while committed to maintain and protect the sovereignty and integrity of this great nation, has decided to reexamine and reconsider the provisions of Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code which can be done only before the competent forum."

Case Title: SG Vombatkere vs Union of India