On sedition law, Supreme Court gives Centre 24 hours to decide on pending cases

The apex court asked the Centre to inform it about pending cases under sedition law and how will the government take care of these cases. The case would be heard on Wednesday.

Updated on: May 10, 2022, 15:16:19 IST

By HT News Desk | Written by Sohini Goswami

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave the Centre 24 hours to inform the court whether it will issue instructions to all states and Union territories to keep sedition cases in abeyance till the government's proposed exercise of reviewing Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was completed. The Centre will come back with a reply on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the apex court agreed to the Centre’s proposal to defer hearing till it re-examined the sedition law.

Earlier, the court asked solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, how long it would take for reconsidering the sedition law and how would the government address its misuse.

A day ago, the government said it was re-examining the British-era legislation and urged the court from to not proceed with hearing petitions before it on the matter.

When Mehta said that reconsideration was underway, the apex court said there were concerns that the sedition law was being misused.

The top court suggested that the Centre may complete the task of reconsideration in three-four months and direct state governments that matters under 124A of the IPC be kept in abeyance till then.

The court added the attorney general himself had said chanting the Hanuman Chalisa was leading to such cases. “In the affidavit itself it is said that misuse of law is there, how will you address this?” the court said.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal said the exercise of this court cannot be stopped merely because the legislature would take time to reconsider for six months or one year as he urged the SC to examine the constitutional validity of the sedition law.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike LIVE and more across India.