The Supreme Court has received an application from Central Government for seeking some more time to file its response in the plea challenging Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which terms sedition criminal.
Supreme Court has been informed by the Central Government that although the draft for the response has already in place yet a final approval of competent authority is needed to supervise it again before presenting.
CJI NV Ramana,Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli on April 27 last week had ordered the Government to file its response by April 30. The bench had directed the Government to finally dispose of the matter on April 5, and also had made it clear that no further adjournment will be granted.
CJI NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli on April 27 last week had ordered the Government to file its response by April 30. The bench had directed the Government to finally dispose of the matter on April 5, and also had made it clear that no further adjournment will be granted.
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The Apex Court has issued notice to question if the Sedition Law still holds any good after 75 years of Indian Independence
The reason for the Act during British period was to silence the voice against the imperialism.The Britishers used this Act whenever the situation guaranteed so. In case of Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak before the country gained independence as these National icons changed the mindset of people making them Anti-British.
CJI Ramana observed that this law is now misused whenever people find the other party saying things that do not match their views. It is grossly misued when the things pertain to communities people and mindset.
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“Dispute is it is a colonial law and was used by British and suppress freedoms and used against Mahatma Gandhi Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Is this law still needed after 75 years of independence? Our concern is misuse of the law and no accountability of the executive”
-CJI Ramana had said.
This act was challenged after the two journalists were charged for sedition on a post ans cartoon that they published on a social media platform.The jornalists then moved to Supreme Court for the infringement of their rights under article 19A
An intervention applications by Foundation of Media Professionals stated that the law of sedition is a colonial dictate which was devised to “crush the independence movement”.
“The tendency of the British to ensure complete allegiance and compliance of the Indian citizens not only in action but also in thought, is blatantly evident from the evolution of the law on sedition. It is relevant to note, however, that the Indian courts have largely crusaded against regarding every unpleasant word as ‘actionable’, championing the cause of the media”
-the plea stated.