Sedition Law To Be Completely Repealed: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (11 August) tabled three Bills in Lok Sabha, which are aimed at reforming India's criminal justice system.

These bills are the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023; Bharativa Nyaya Sanita Bill, 2023; and Bharativa Sakshya Bill, 2023.

The newly proposed bills propose the complete repeal of the sedition law.

Shah introduced the bills in Lok Sabha, stating that their objective is to replace the existing British-era laws: the Indian Penal Code, 1860; Criminal Procedure Code, 1898; and Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

Introducing the bills, Shah criticised the old laws, which have been in place since the 19th century, as a symbol of servitude, referring to the British colonial rule in India.

Shah announced that the offence of sedition will be "completely repealed" from the new Bill which will replace the Indian Penal Code.

Provisions under the sedition law - proposed to be scrapped – will be retained in Section 150 for acts of endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

At present, the punishment for sedition includes life imprisonment or a jail term of up to three years. However, under the new provision, the maximum imprisonment term will be extended to seven years.

"Everyone has the right to speak. We are completely repealing sedition," the Home Minister said as he moved the bills in Parliament, reports India Today.

In the new bill, the term 'sedition' has been removed, but the provision addressing acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India has been retained under Section 150 with certain modifications.

“Whoever, purposely or knowingly, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or by electronic communication or by use of financial mean, or otherwise, excites or attempts to excite, secession or armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of separatist activities or endangers sovereignty or unity and integrity of India; or indulges in or commits any such act shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine,” the new provision states.

The revised law has made changes to include the use of "electronic communication" and "financial means".

The amended provision adds "excites or attempts to excite, secession or armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of separatist activities or endangers sovereignty or unity and integrity of India".