Govt at advanced stage of consultation on reexamining colonial-era sedition law: Centre to SC

At the outset, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan urged the bench to constitute a bench of seven judges for adjudicating the issues

The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that consultation on reexamining colonial era sedition law is at an advanced stage.

Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, submitted before a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala that the government has initiated the process to reexamine section 124A of the Indian Penal Code.

Taking note of his submission, the bench fixed the matter related to batch of petitions, including by Major General (Rtd) S G Vombatkere questioning validity of the penal provision for hearing in the second week of August.

Also Read: Order putting sedition law on hold to continue, SC grants time to Centre

In his submission, Venkatramani said that the consultation process is at the advanced stage.

Before it goes to the Parliament, it will be shown to him, he said, asking the court to schedule the matter for hearing after the Monsoon session.

Appearing for one of the petitioners, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan submitted that the court could constitute a bench of seven judges for adjudicating the issues.

The bench, for its part, said that the matter will be first placed before a five-judge bench, even if it is referred to a seven-judge bench.

In the hearing, the bench initially asked advocate Kanu Agarwal, representing the central government, as what is the stand of the central government and what is the progress of the committee formed to look into the matter or the court would decide the matter on judicial side.

On May 11, 2022, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre and state governments to refrain from registering any FIRs under the sedition provision, Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, till review of the law by Centre is complete.

The court had said it is cognisant of the integrity of the state on one hand, and the civil liberties of citizens on the other, as it put on hold the colonial-era penal provision of sedition with maximum sentence of life imprisonment.