The Supreme Court extended stay on the controversial Sedition law till January and adjourned the matter till the second week of January, 2023. The decision was taken after the Central government sought more time for re-examining the law and suggested that “something might happen” in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.
A top court bench headed by CJI UU Lalit heard a plea seeking scrapping of the sedition law. Representing the Centre, Attorney General R Venkataramani said the government is considering changes and amendments in the IPC and CrPC, and will soon present a report to Parliament.
“The matter will be put before Parliament and something may happen in the upcoming winter session,” he added.
Following this, the Supreme Court extended the stay on Sedition law till the second week of January and adjourned the matter till then.
It should be noted that back on May 11, the Centre had informed that it would re-examine the law and urged the top court to defer adjudicating on its validity.
The bench led by then Chief Justice NV Ramana had on May 11 stayed all proceedings in pending sedition cases and directed the Centre and states to not register any fresh FIR invoking sedition charges until the government re-examines the colonial era penal law.
The SC bench had said that those already booked under Section 124A IPC and in jail could approach competent courts for appropriate relief and bail. It also said that any relief granted to the accused will continue.
