Honorable Supreme Court Agrees To Examine The Constitutional Validity Of Sedition Law

Overview

• On 30th April 2021 in a writ petition, the Honorable Supreme Court has agreed to examine the validity of Sedition law mentioned under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

What is Sedition Law

• The law regarding Sedition is provided under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
• It says that any person who attempts in any way to bring hatred or excites disaffection towards the government which is established by law shall be punished.
• The Punished may extend to three years of imprisonment and can also include a fine.

Background of the case

• The name of the case is, “Kishorechandra Wangkhemcha V. Union of India”
• In this case, a plea was filed by two journalists namely Kishorechandra Wangkhemcha of Manipur and Kanhaiya Lal Shukla from Chhattisgarh.
• An FIR was registered against them for sharing cartoons and comments made by them on Facebook, under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
• In the petition, they challenged the validity of the provision concerning sedition law under IPC for violation of Freedom of Speech and Expression.

What did the court say

• Three months back in February 2021, the Apex Court dismissed an appeal questioning the Sedition law in India.
• The plea was heard by a three-judge bench consisting of Justice U.U Lalit, Justice K.M Joseph, and Justice Indira Banerjee.
• The Court has issued a notice to the Central government under this case.
• The Court has also agreed to examine the validity of Sedition law in India.

What do you think, whether Sedition law is needed in today’s era or not?

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