The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Central government whether the sedition law was still required nearly 75 years after the country gained independence.
Hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the sedition law, the court told the government that the colonial law was largely used against freedom fighters.
“Sedition law is a colonial law and was used by the British and to suppress freedom. It was used against Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Is this law still needed after 75 years of independence?” the Supreme Court asked, seeking Centre’s response on the pleas challenging constitutional validity of the penal law on sedition.
“Our concern is about the misuse of law,” said the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief justice NV Ramana, asking why was the government not getting rid of the colonial-era law. “There is no accountability of executing agencies. I will look into it,” he added.
“It is like you give a saw to carpenter, he will cut the entire forest. This is the impact of this law,” the Chief Justice noted.
Responding on behalf of the Centre, the Attorney General defended the validity of the provision but said that some guidelines may be laid down to curb the misuse of the sedition law.
One of the pleas was filed by the Editors Guild of India.
The latest petition was filed by former Army officer Major-General SG Vombatkere (Retd), who had contended that Section 124 A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code causes a “chilling effect” on speech. He further said that the provision imposes an unreasonable restriction on free expression, which is a fundamental right
