Supreme Court Puts Use Of Sedition Provision On Hold

The Supreme Court of India has put on hold the use of sedition provision under India's criminal statute. A bench presided by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Tuesday also put pending cases in abeyance as the central government begins the exercise of reconsidering the provision.

Constitutional law experts have welcomed the apex court's ruling.

It's an important ruling and a step in the right direction, says Senior Advocate Navroz Seervai.

A view shared by Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi. It's a historic order, and now the review process must narrowly tailor the law in light of its misuse, Dwivedi says.

Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code defines the offence of sedition and seeks to punish those who excite or attempt to excite disaffection towards the government through spoken or written words or visible representation. The offence carries a punishment of life imprisonment and fine or a three-year imprisonment with fine.

The top court was examining a batch of petitions challenging the provision, which has attracted attention and criticism over its misuse.

In an affidavit this week, the central government agreed to reconsider the sedition provision. This prompted the apex court to ask the government what happens in the interim.

On Wednesday, the government proposed that while the sedition law is being re-examined, new cases will be registered only upon the satisfaction of an officer not below the rank of superintendent of police.

The top court, however, went a step further and directed that no new cases be registered while the review was in process. It also allowed parties to approach the court if any cases are registered.

The observations of the court cannot be read as constituting a prohibition or a bar, said Seervai, in response to a query if the ruling means an automatic bar on filing fresh sedition cases.

"But at a practical level, with these strong observations of the Supreme Court, I think it would effectively put a halt to the filing of further cases under 124A," he said.

The apex court passed the following directions in the interest of justice:

• The central and state governments will restrain from registering any FIR, continuing any investigation or taking any coercive measures by invoking Section 124A while the provision is under reconsideration.

• If any case is registered, the affected parties are at liberty to approach the courts concerned for appropriate relief. The courts are requested to examine the relief sought taking into account the present order passed as well as the clear stand taken by the central government.

• All pending trials, appeals and proceedings with respect to charge framed under Section 124A IPC be kept in abeyance.

• The central government is at liberty to issue any directions to prevent misuse.

The order will not result in an automatic bail for people charged under the offence and if they are facing other charges then the trial under those provisions will go on, Seervai points out.

These directions will continue until further orders, the apex court said, while listing the matter for July.