New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday, in a historical decision, put a stay on the sedition law and ruled that no new FIRs will be lodged under this sedition law until the Centre reexamines the provisions of this British-era law, which has been challenged in the Supreme Court.
The bench said in its order :”We hope and expect Centre and State Governments will refrain from registering any FIR, continuing investigation, or taking coercive steps under Section 124 A IPC when it is under reconsideration. It will be appropriate not to use this provision of law till further re-examination is over”
A bench comprising the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli held that all pending cases, appeals and proceedings with respect to charges framed under Section124 A be kept in abeyance. Adjudication with respect to other sections may proceed with no prejudice be caused to the accused, it held.
The Centre proposed that future FIRs under Section 124A IPC (sedition charge) be registered only after scrutiny by a Superintendent of Police level official or above. On pending cases, courts can be directed to expeditiously consider bail, it said. “There are over 800 cases of sedition filed across India. 13,000 people are in jail,” senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, said.