Supreme Court bans sedition law; New cases will not be registered until reconsideration

Supreme Court bans sedition law;  New cases will not be registered until reconsideration

 In a historic development, the Supreme Court ordered that the 162-year-old sedition law under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code be kept in abeyance until the Central government reconsiders the provision.

 The Court, in an interim order, urged the Central and State Governments to refrain from filing any FIR under the said provision till it is reconsidered.

 A bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli said that all pending cases, appeals and proceedings in relation to the charges framed under Section 124A be kept in abeyance.  "We hope that the Central and State Governments will refrain from registering any FIR, continuing the investigation or taking coercive steps under Section 124A of the IPC," the bench said in the order.  The court said that those who are already booked under section 124A of the IPC and are in jail can approach the concerned courts for bail.

 Case Title: SG Vombatkere vs Union of India (WPC 682/2021) EditorsbGuild of India and Others vs Union of India and Others |  2022 (sc) 470