Sedition Law: 'No Proposal Under Consideration To Scrap Section 124A Of IPC', Says Govt

The government on Friday (10 December) said that there is no proposal under its consideration to scrap the sedition law.

In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the Supreme Court in its order on a writ petition on 31 May 2021 had observed that “the ambit and parameters of the provisions of Sections 124A, 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 would require interpretation, particularly in the context of the right of the electronic and print media to communicate news, information and the rights, even those that may be critical of the prevailing regime in any part of the nation".

The Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code lays down the punishment for sedition.

He further informed that the apex court has also issued notice to Centre on a plea in which "the petitioners have made a prayer before the Hon’ble Supreme Court for an appropriate writ, order or direction declaring Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 to be unconstitutional and void,".

"Upon hearing the matter, the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 12.07.2021 has granted time for filing written submissions and counter affidavit in the matter on behalf of the Union of India," the Law Minister added.

The SC has also issued notice to the Centre on another writ petition that has been "tagged with other matters wherein similar question of law has been raised and are pending for consideration before the Hon’ble Supreme Court," he said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that there is no proposal under consideration to scrap Sec. 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Further, the question of law regarding Section 124A is pending for adjudication before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.

In reply to a question on whether the government is planning to strike down or amend section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Rijiju said, "The Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that there is no proposal under consideration to scrap Sec. 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860".

Further, the question of law regarding Section 124A is pending for adjudication before the Supreme Court of India, he added.