‘Is this law vital?’ SC seeks Centre’s response on pleas challenging sedition law
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Recalling the the colonial sedition law was utilized by the British in opposition to freedom fighters resembling Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Ganadar Tilak, Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana puzzled if the law was vital after 75 years of Independence.
A 3-judge bench additionally comprising Justices S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy on Thursday agreed to look at a recent plea by a former military officer challenging the Constitutional validity of the sedition law on the bottom that it causes “chilling effect” on speech and is an unreasonable restriction on free expression, a elementary proper. Several pleas together with one by Editors Guild of India, have challenged the law.
“If you look at the history of use of this Section 124A of IPC, you will find that the conviction rate is very low. There is misuse of power by executive agencies,” CJI Ramana informed to Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, who’s pleading on behalf of the Union authorities.
Concerned in regards to the misuse of the law, CJI Ramana mentioned: “Use of sedition is like giving a saw to the carpenter to cut a piece of wood and he uses it to cut the entire forest itself.”
He recalled how Section 66A of the Information Technology Act was continued for use regardless of it was struck down by the apex court docket.
“People are scared,” Chief Justice Ramana mentioned, including that If one get together doesn’t like what the opposite is saying, Section 124A is used… “It is a serious threat to the functioning of individuals and parties.”
The Bench sought to know if the Centre plans to relook the law. “Your government is taking out a lot of stale laws from the law books, why have they not looked into sedition law?”
Some tips could also be laid all the way down to curb misuse of sedition law, Mr. Venugopal mentioned whereas defending the validity of the availability.
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